Sitts Strikes Out 11 to Earn Series Split with Avila

(Kansas City, MO) – In their first games of the 2026 season, the Hastings Broncos took on Avila, losing 11-3 in game one, then sophomore pitcher Dani Sitts struck out 11 batters in their 2-0 game two victory on Thursday afternoon.

In game one, the Eagles got on the board first with a leadoff single that came around to score on a two-out RBI single. Hastings tied it at one in their first at-bat of the second inning on a home run from senior Lauren Lee.

Avila put up three runs in the third inning that began with a one-out walk. After an RBI-double and a second walk in the inning, they scored both runners on a triple to right center to take a 4-1 lead. In the top of the fourth, Lee walked and advanced to third two batters later on a double from senior Lexie Mudloff. Lee came home on a ground out by freshman Jenna McClain to make it 4-2.

With two Hastings runners on the corners with one out in the top of the fifth, junior Kaylee Pinneo got the Broncos within one at 4-3, scoring sophomore Gracie Graf on a sac fly. Avila responded with four runs in their next half inning on three separate RBI-hits to take an 8-3 lead. The Eagles scored three more in the sixth to get the 11-3 run rule win.

Lee was 1-2 at the plate with a walk and scored two runs, while Graf was 1-2 with a run scored.

In game two it was Hastings that grabbed an early lead. Senior Katyn Kappler walked and with one out Pinneo doubled to put runners on second and third. Kappler came home on a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead. In the second inning, Avila stranded the bases loaded with two out, as Sitts struck out the final batter of the inning.

Sitts would not allow another hit until a one-out double in the fourth, but she retired the next two batters with a strikeout and lineout. Hastings added an insurance run in the seventh, beginning with a Mudloff walk and steal of second. A McClain single moved Mudloff to third and she scored on a wild pitch to go up 2-0. Sitts retired the Eagles in order in the bottom of the seventh, striking out the first two batters and getting a flyout to center to end the game.

Sitts pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just the two hits and three walks, while striking out 11 batters. Both of Hastings' runs came on wild pitches, with both players - Kappler and Mudloff - initially reaching base on walks.

Up next, Hastings will play a double-header at Bethel on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 1 and 3pm.