HILLSBORO, Kan. – The Lady Bluejays hosted Bethany College on their home field Thursday afternoon, facing the Swedes just a few days after their dominant sweep against Southwestern. 
 
Going into the contest, Bethany held a 9-10 overall record, dropping a series with Evangel University just a few days earlier.  Tabor entered the contest with an overall record of 12-7 following the two solid wins against the Moundbuilders.  
 
GAME ONE: L  0-5
The game began as a pitcher's duel, with both teams keeping each other off the scoreboard in the early innings. Tabor had an opportunity to strike in the second when Mylee Milne singled and Lainee Rae Miller was hit by a pitch, putting runners in scoring position. However, Bethany's defense held firm, preventing the Bluejays from bringing a run home.

Bethany took a 1-0 lead in the third inning with a series of singles, adding another run in the fourth to extend their advantage. Despite the deficit, Tabor continued to battle, putting together a strong sixth inning when Darcy Gillen reached after being hit by a pitch and Cheyenne Washington followed with a single. Miller added another hit to keep the rally alive, but Bethany once again escaped without allowing a run. The game remained within reach until the seventh inning when Bethany delivered a three-run home run, putting the game just out of reach for the Bluejays.
 
GAME TWO: W 7-6
Tabor struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Mikayla Guarascio singled and later scored on a Gillen RBI double to right center, giving the Bluejays a 1-0 lead. They added another run in the third after Gillen walked, stole two bases, and scored on a Bethany error, extending the lead to 2-0. Meanwhile, Bethany struggled to generate offense early, managing only one hit through the first three innings against Madison Nelson's disciplined pitching efforts. 

Tabor widened their lead in the fourth, taking advantage of Bethany's defensive miscues. A leadoff error allowed Kailey Cross to reach base, and later, Payten Staley's RBI single and another Bethany error brought in two more unearned runs, putting Tabor ahead 4-0. However, Bethany responded in the fifth, breaking through with three hits, including an RBI single to cut the deficit to 4-1.

Bethany's offense came alive in the sixth inning, tying the game at 4-4. This surge marked a turning point as Bethany gained momentum. The Swedes carried their momentum into the seventh, taking a 6-4 lead after a couple of RBI hits. In the bottom of the inning, Gillen led off with a single, and Washington crushed a two-run homer to left center, dramatically tying the game at 6-6 and forcing extra innings. Bethany was unable to regain the lead in the top of the eighth, going down in order. In the bottom of the inning, Tabor capitalized on a hit-by-pitch and a clutch single from Staley to drive in Reyna Enriquez for the winning run, sealing a 7-6 walk-off victory.

The Bluejays are back in action on Saturday afternoon to take on Avila University in Kansas City, Mo. Tabor will enter the doubleheader with an overall record of 13-8 and a KCAC record of 4-2. The Eagles will enter with an overall record of 14-10 and a conference record of 4-0. 
 
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).