Softball Picks Up Two Big Road Wins at Waldorf

(Forest City, IA) – The Hastings College Broncos took on the Waldorf University Warriors in a doubleheader with Hastings taking game one in a thrilling 8-7 win, and a 12-2 win in game two.

In the opening inning, sophomore Kaylee Pinneo's double drove in senior Isabel Tanabe for the game's first run. Shortly after, junior Lauren Lee's double contributed to bringing Pinneo home, giving the team an early 2-0 advantage. 

In the top of the second inning, the Broncos added to their lead by Pinneo getting a hit that allowed senior Lauren Schneider advanced to second; Tanabe and freshman Gracey Graf scored, making the score 4-0. The Warriors got the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning by scoring their first run, making the score 4-1. 

Waldorf took the lead in the bottom of the third inning, scoring five runs on four hits to go up 6-4. 

The Broncos answered back in the top of the fourth inning, with Pinneo hitting a single to bring Tanabe home. Junior Ana Medeiros followed with a single that allowed Pinneo to score as well, putting the Broncos ahead 7-6. 

In the top of the seventh inning, Schneider reached on a fielder's choice, advancing senior Shey Storesund to third and scoring Graf, extending the lead to 8-6. Despite a late run by the Warriors and a bases-loaded situation with one out in the inning, freshman pitcher Kassidy Beavers got the final two batters to pop out, as the Broncos held on for an 8-7 victory.

Tanabe finished the game with four hits and scored three runs, while Pinneo had three hits and drove in four runners. Lee and Graf also chipped in with two hits each. Beavers came into the game with two outs in the third and pitched through the end, allowing just one run on five hits and no walks, striking out three.

In game two, the Broncos came in hot with Lee hitting a grand slam in the top of the first inning, allowing herself, Pinneo, Scheinder, and Tanabe to hit home plate, making it an early 4-0 Bronco lead. 

In the top of the second inning, the Warriors scored two runs, bringing the score to 4-2. 

In the top of the third inning, Medeiros grounded out to right field, allowing Pinneo to score and extending the lead to 5-2. Moving to the fifth inning, senior Lexie Mudloff reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Medeiros to second and scoring Lee on an error, making it 6-2. 

In the sixth inning, senior Angelina Lockhart capitalized on a wild pitch to advance and score, extending the Bronco lead to 7-2. 

The game was sealed in the seventh inning as Schneider singled, driving in senior Nicole Halsey. Pinneo followed with a single, bringing Tanabe home. Lee reached base on an error, advancing to second and moving Pinneo to third, while Schneider crossed home plate. Medeiros then hit a single, allowing Pinneo to score. Mudloff reached base on an error, advancing to second, with Medeiros moving to third and Lee scoring. The final score was 12-2 in favor of the Broncos.

Medeiros and Pinneo ended the game with a team-high three hits, while Lee, Schneider, and Tanabe had two hits apiece. Lee led the team with five RBIs, with four of them coming on the grand slam. Freshman pitcher Dani Sitts threw seven innings, allowing only two runs on four hits, striking out six.

Coming up next, the Broncos will take on the Morningside Mustangs in a doubleheader tomorrow in Sioux City, IA, at 2pm.