GREAT BEND, Kan. – Bluejay Softball had an interesting time making sure that their season-opening double-header would get played. Several games that were originally on the schedule for Tabor ended up getting canceled or postponed due to weather in Texas two weeks ago and Kansas City last weekend. Less than ideal field conditions at the Bluejays' home field would require the first home series to be played elsewhere, which would end up being the Great Bend Sports Complex at Langrehr Park, an hour, and 40 minutes away in Great Bend.
 
Game One
Friday would turn out to be a beautiful day for softball and being far from home didn't seem to faze the Bluejays in the first game. The Tigers would draw blood first, scoring in the 1^st inning with an RBI double from Anna Prauner. Payten Staley would record the first hit for the Bluejays, making it to second for a double, but the Bluejays wouldn't get on the board in terms of scoring until the 2^nd inning, where Laura Savage would run in to score after a throwing error.
 
The Tigers would score two runs in the top of the 4^th inning to take a 3-1 lead, but that satisfaction wouldn't last long as the Bluejays would score six runs in the bottom of the 4^th. Darcy Gillen would drive in a two-run homer while Jacqueline Garcia, Lauren Roberts, and Reese Hefley would score off errors.
 
The Bluejays would allow three more runs, but Jordyn Farren would get an RBI, sending Staley into score. Tabor would come out of game one with a solid 8-6 victory.
 
Game Two
The second game would be a different story, as the Bluejays couldn't find a rhythm and get to scoring, while Tigers seemed to get hot at the right time. The Bluejay ladies had several opportunities to get into the game, with several batters getting hit by the Tigers' pitcher Faith Molina, and errors being made defensivsely for Doane. Ultimately, the BlueJay's would fall, 9-2.
 
Head Coach Jeff Brewer had this to say about the day, "Overall it was a good day for the Bluejays. We had solid outings in the circle with Marisa Carranza in game one and Annabelle Buchanan in game two. Game one, we made a couple of errors defensively, but it is early and those will happen. We have to clean up some metal mistakes that we made: offensively, we did get some timely hitting with Cheyenne Washington, Darcy Gillen, Jordyn Farren, and Payten Staley had a good day at the plate both games. Game two, we had opportunities to make it a game: offensively we couldn't string anything together without shooting ourselves in the foot. We tool ourselves out of some innings without anything to show for it.  Mickey Guarascio played well and worked into some quality at bats. Most of things will clean themselves up as we get more game time on the field - they are a talented group and will continue to put the work in to get where we need to be. I always want to invite everyone out to catch a game, this a fun group to watch work. They really have the ability to do some things as the season moves forward."
 
The Bluejays will be back on the road on Tuesday to face the Pioneers of MidAmerica Nazarene University in a two-game doubleheader in Olathe.
 
Be sure to stay up to date with all information regarding Bluejay Athletics by following us on X at @gotaborbluejays, on Instagram and Facebook @taborbluejays, and on our official athletic website, taborbluejays.com.

Tabor College is a Christ-centered institution located in Hillsboro, Kansas. The Bluejays are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC).