SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Tabor College Bluejay Softball team kicked off a string of doubleheaders on the road last Wednesday, and continued that with a trip down to Springfield, Mo. on Saturday to take on the Evangel University Valor for the first time as conference foes. The two programs previously met for the first time on Apr. 9, 2010 in a neutral-site contest in Clarmore, Okla., where Evangel won 10-0.
 
The Bluejays came into Saturday's matchup after dropping both of Wednesday's contests at Saint Mary, while the Valor split their doubleheader with Friends on Wednesday.
 
Game One: W 5-2
 
The first two innings of the first game went by fast, as only one hit was given up by either team with the Valor hitting a single up the middle in the bottom of the 1^st. Jacqueline Garcia got on base for the Bluejays after being walked in the top of the 2^nd but would be tagged out as part of a double-play the very next at-bat. 
 
The Valor broke the stalemate in the bottom of the 3^rd Inning after an RBI single sent the first run in to score, and a second run would come in to score off a ground out to Darcy Gillen at short stop. Tabor answered back with a solo homerun from Cheyenne Washington in the middle of the top of the 4^th to cut their deficit to one. Washington's homerun marks her first as a Bluejay and is the 26^th of her career. 
 
Both teams once again reached a stalemate through the bottom of the 5^th Inning, with the only hit given up being a single down the right side for Evangel in the bottom of the 4^th. Tabor evened up the score after Washington singled to center and headed to second after a fielding error by Evangel's centerfielder, sending Laura Savage in to score an unearned run.
 
Neither team was able to break the game open in the 7^th Inning and the game would require extra innings to decide the winner. It didn't take too long, however for the Bluejays to get things going as Gillen loaded the bases with a single to third after Savage was walked. Washington then hit a single up the middle to drive in Reyna Enriquez to put the Bluejays up, 3-2. Garcia really broke things open with a two-RBI single to left field, sending both Gillen and Savage home. The Bluejays snagged three quick outs to take the first game, 5-2. Marisa Carranza recorded the win to improve her record this season to 6-6.
 
"Marisa pitched a very solid complete game for us in the first game", remarked Head Coach Jeff Brewer. 
 
"We had some timely hits from Cheyenne, Darcy, Laura, and Jackie. I thought we played very well on the defensive side of things, and we made some big plays when we needed to get the out. This was a really good team win, especially on the road."
 
Game Two: L 3-0
 
The Bluejays had a chance to get on the board first in the top of the 1^st Inning, with Darcy Gillen getting on base after being walked, and advancing to second base after Cheyenne Washington grounded out to third but would not be able to capitalize. The Valor also had a chance to score in the bottom of the 1^st but would also end their half of the inning scoreless with a runner stranded in scoring position.
 
The next two innings also proved to be uneventful, with the top of the 4^th also ending quickly for the Bluejays. Evangel recorded three runs in the bottom of the 4^th, and the Bluejays were unable to answer as the Valor grabbed the 3-0 win. 
Coach Brewer reflected on the second game, "Evangel's pitcher did a really good job for them. She kept us off-balance the entire game and we just weren't able to string anything together and get going."
 
"I thought we did pretty well defensively, and Annabelle Buchanan and Chloe Yturbide-Reader did a solid job in the circle for us."
 
The Lady Bluejays will be back on the road for a KCAC doubleheader in Salina on Wednesday against Kansas Wesleyan and will head to the Kansas City area on Thursday for a date with Kansas Christian College in a non-conference doubleheader. Wednesday's games will be broadcast live on the KCAC Network and Thursday's games will be broadcast live on the KCC Athletics Youtube.

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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).