HILLSBORO, Kan. – Strong winds made for an interesting day of softball in Hillsboro today. The Lady Bluejays returned home to host Friends University in a doubleheader yesterday afternoon, The Bluejays were coming off a monster sweep of Kansas Christian College on Thursday, putting up 37 total runs throughout the course of the series. Friends came into the series after splitting a doubleheader at home against University of Saint Mary.
 
Lauren Roberts recorded an RBI single out to left field to send Payten Staley home in the first game, a play that proved to be pivotal as it provided the only run scored for the Bluejays. Reese Hefley snagged the last two outs for Tabor, preventing what could have been two solid hits to extend the game. Marisa Carranza recorded the win in the circle for the Bluejays in game one.
 
The wind continued to pick up in between games and didn't show any signs of letting up, and the storm clouds continued to build, but the second game would take place as scheduled. The Falcons may have been frustrated with the result of the first game, but they took their frustration out in the 1^st Inning of game two, sending one run in to score off an RBI single, and sending another home off a sac-fly to right field. 
 
Laura Savage provided the first run for the Bluejays, scoring off a wild pitch after being walked, advancing to second off a pop fly from Hefley, and stealing third. The Falcons would score again in the 2^nd but the big highlight of the 2^nd Inning was the bomb crushed to left field by Lauren Roberts to bring the Bluejays back within one. 
 
The Falcons scored three more runs in the 3^rd and 4^th Innings to take a 6-2 lead which was the largest deficit the Bluejays had faced all day. The Bluejays scored again in the bottom of the 5^th with an RBI single to center field from Darcy Gillen, sending Roberts to cross home plate for the second time in the game. Gillen hit another RBI single in the bottom of the 7^th, this time to third, once again sending Roberts in to score, but it would not be enough and the Falcons would go on to win, 6-4.
 
"It was a tough day in the windy conditions today", remarked Head Coach Jeff Brewer. "Game one was a good team win. We played good defense and made some really good plays when we needed them. Offensively, we battled enough to get a run across, which was enough support for Marisa in the circle, who put together a solid game despite suffering an injury to her finger earlier in the week." 
 
"Our defense was good once again in game two, we made some great plays and continued to battle the wind. Annabelle and Chloe gave us a chance to win with their efforts in the circle. We had several opportunities to win at different times with runners in scoring position, we just weren't able to get the hit to drive them in that we needed."
 
"Overall we put together a good day as a group and the girls battled all day. This is a really good group to be able to go out to the field with every day."
 
The Bluejays will turn around and host York on Tuesday for another KCAC doubleheader. First pitch of the series will take place at 3pm and the games will be broadcast live on the KCAC Network. 
 
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).