HILLSBORO, Kan. – The Lady Bluejays kicked off their home opener with a Sunday afternoon doubleheader against Southwestern College. After splitting a series with McPherson last Tuesday, Tabor looked to gain a couple of crucial KCAC wins over the weekend. Both teams took part in the "Pink Out" theme to raise awareness for breast cancer and honor their loved ones impacted by it.

Going into the contest, Southwestern held a 5-6 overall record, dropping a series with Evangel University just a few days earlier.  Tabor entered the contest with an overall record of 10-7 following the split with the Bulldogs. 
 
GAME ONE: W 9-1
Tabor dominated Southwestern with a 9-1 victory in five innings, capitalizing on strong hitting and solid defense. The scoring began in the second inning when Lainee Rae Miller reached on an error and came home on Lauren Roberts' sacrifice fly, giving Tabor a 1-0 lead. In the third, Tabor extended the lead to 3-0 after Mikayla Guarascio walked, Darcy Gillen doubled, and Cheyenne Washington and Miller each drove in runs with singles. 

The fourth inning proved to be the turning point, as Payten Staley and Guarascio reached base before Gillen blasted a three-run homer, pushing the lead to 6-0. Later in the inning, Miller added an RBI double to make it 7-0. Southwestern managed to score in the fifth when a Moundbuilder singled and eventually came home on a defensive error, but Tabor responded quickly. 

Reese Hefley led off the bottom of the inning with a single, and Staley and Gillen followed with RBI hits to secure the 9-1 win via run rule. Tabor's offense delivered 12 hits, with Gillen leading the way with a homer and four RBIs. Marisa Carranza's disciplined pitching held Southwestern to just five hits and one unearned run, sealing the dominant victory.
 
GAME TWO: W 9-0
In the second game of their doubleheader, Tabor delivered a dominant 9-0 shutout victory over Southwestern, combining explosive offense with near-flawless pitching and defense. They set the tone early in the first inning when Staley led off with a single, setting the stage for Gillen's two-run homer to center field. Moments later, Mylee Milne followed with a solo home run, giving Tabor an early 3-0 lead.

The Bluejays continued their offensive onslaught in the second inning. Dessa Zavala led off with a single and later came around to score on a clutch RBI hit from Staley. Hefley then drove in another run with a deep double to center, extending the lead to 5-0. Meanwhile, Southwestern struggled at the plate, failing to record a hit through the first four innings and unable to make solid contact against Tabor's pitching staff.

In the third inning, Tabor broke the game wide open. Washington and Miller led off with hits, followed by an RBI infield single from Zavala. After loading the bases, Roberts delivered a solid hit, a three-run double to center field, pushing the lead to 9-0. Tabor's relentless offense proved too much for Southwestern to handle, as they continued to pile on runs while keeping their opponent off the board.

Southwestern's only real scoring opportunity came in the fifth inning when they recorded their first and only hit, eventually advancing to third base. However, Madison Nelson quickly shut the door, preserving the shutout.
 
Tabor showcased dominant performances in both games of their doubleheader against Southwestern. In the first game, Tabor capitalized on a strong offensive effort, with key hits from Gillen, including a three-run homer, and a solid performance from Carranza on the mound. The Bluejay defense backed up the offense, limiting Southwestern to only one run. In the second game, Tabor's offense was explosive from the start, with home runs from Gillen and Milne setting the tone. The Bluejays' relentless offensive pressure continued throughout, while Nelson's pitching shut down Southwestern's offense, preserving the shutout victory.

Tabor will be back in action on their home field against Bethany College on Thursday afternoon to face the Swedes in their third KCAC matchup of the season. The Bluejays will enter the doubleheader with an overall record of 12-7 and a KCAC record of 3-1. The Swedes will enter with an overall record of 9-10 and a conference record of 0-2. 

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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).