BRANSON, Mo. - Kansas Wesleyan Softball split the second day of games at the Branson Bash tournament at the Branson RecPlex on Saturday, and completed a highly successful weekend going 3-1 at the event.
The Coyotes defeated Culver-Stockton in the first game 6-2, then lost 9-8 to Cottey College in extra innings.
Against Culver, the Coyotes got three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Brooklyn Lange led off the inning with a single and then scored on Cadence Mallet's fielder's choice that did not yield an out. Keira Hammen then drive in a run with a ground out. Madison Geer drove in KWU's third run of the inning on a ground out.
Culver got one back in the second, but the Coyotes answered right back. Grace Pierce led off the inning with a single and then scored on Becca Kennon's triple.
The Wildcats got another run in the top of the fifth but again the Coyotes got the run back in the bottom of the frame. Lange walked and later in the inning Hammen singled in the run.
The Coyotes added another run in the sixth when Pierce reached on an error then scored on Kennon's double.
Kennon and Kendell Wilcox had two hits each for the Coyotes. Kennon and Hammen drove in two runs each. Alli Mickelsen got the win in the circle allowing two runs, one earned, on seven hits.
KWU then faced a talented Cottey College team that was 11-4 heading into the meeting between the teams and despite jumping out to an 8-0 lead early, Cottey rallied for the 9-8 extra innings win.
The Coyotes scored twice in the first as Mallet singled and then scored on Hammen's 2-run homer.
Wesleyan put six on the board in the top of the second inning. Pierce led off the inning with a single and then scored on Lange's double. Wilcox then doubled home Lange. Mallet then singled and Hammen hit her second homer in as many at bats. Geer capped the scoring reaching on a single and then scoring on an error.
Cottey started its rally in the fourth inning, scoring six runs, taking advantage of a pair of KWU errors to get within two.
Hammen doubled in the sixth inning, but could not find a path home.
Cottey was able to tie things up with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and force extra sessions.
KWU was unable to score in the top of the eighth, and Cottey finished the game putting a run on the board in the bottom of the inning.
Mallet, Hammen and Geer all had three hits for the Coyotes. Hammen drove in four runs. Mickelsen suffered the loss for the Coyotes.