HILLSBORO, Kan.  – Saturday marked a memorable occasion for the Lady Bluejays, with 14 seniors being recognized in a special Senior Day celebration. Tabor took on Oklahoma Wesleyan, who had only recorded one conference loss heading into the matchup.
 
Going into the doubleheader with the Eagles, Tabor had an 18-15 overall record and a 9-9 record in KCAC play. Oklahoma Wesleyan boasted an overall record of 29-9 and a conference record of 15-1 on the season. Prior to Saturday's doubleheader, Oklahoma Wesleyan had claimed victory in nine of the previous ten meetings between the two teams since 2019. Tabor's most recent win against the Eagles occurred in the 2022 KCAC Conference Tournament. 
 
GAME ONE: W, 3-1
Despite the Eagles getting on the board first with an unearned run in the top of the first inning, the Bluejays immediately responded, putting multiple runners on base. Tabor capitalized on an error and a wild pitch to score two runs in the bottom half, taking a 2–1 lead over the Eagles. Darcy Gillen drove in the tying run with a single, while aggressive base running and OKWU's defensive miscues allowed the go-ahead run to score.

The Bluejays then extended their lead in the third inning. After Gillen roped a triple to center, Candince Moreno-Hairabedian brought her home with a clutch infield single, making the score 3–1. Tabor's defense and Marisa Carranza's pitching held strong through multiple pressure moments. In the fifth and sixth innings, OKWU managed to get runners on base, but the Bluejays prevented any scoring with key outs and a composed presence on the field. OKWU ended up leaving eight runners stranded throughout the game, unable to convert their chances.

Tabor's offense stayed consistent, putting runners in scoring position in the later innings, though they didn't add any insurance runs. Even so, the early offensive burst and a rock-solid defensive performance were enough to seal the deal. The Bluejays retired the Eagles in order in the seventh to close out the 3–1 victory, marking a signature win on Senior Day and handing Oklahoma Wesleyan just their second conference loss of the season.

GAME TWO: W, 8-7
 
In the first two innings of the second game, Oklahoma Wesleyan took an early lead, scoring once in the first and twice in the second. The first run came when a popup allowed a Lady Eagle to score on an error. In the second, Oklahoma Wesleyan capitalized on Tabor's defensive errors, scoring two unearned runs, making it 3-0.

Tabor quickly responded in the bottom of the second, scoring four runs. Key hits came from Reese Hefley, who walked in a run, and Payten Staley, who singled in another. Tabor took advantage of some wild pitching and poor fielding by Oklahoma Wesleyan, putting them in the lead, 4-3. Despite getting runners on base, Oklahoma Wesleyan couldn't match Tabor's offensive production in this inning. However, the Eagles were able to tie the contest at 4-4 with an RBI double in the third inning while Tabor had no response at the bottom of the frame.

The game remained scoreless until the ninth, when Oklahoma Wesleyan regained the lead with a 3-run homer, pushing the Eagles ahead 7-4. Tabor mounted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth, with Staley's 2-run homer and an RBI single from Hefley, along with a sacrifice fly from Moreno-Hairabedian to send Khily Brower home, completing a 4-run rally to ultimately win the series 8-7. Key late-game hits secured another Bluejay victory over the conference-leading Eagles. 

14 seniors were recognized in the ceremony following the doubleheader, including: Madison Nelson, Chloe Yturbide-Reader, Reyna Enriquez, Payten Staley, Darcy Gillen, Megan Buerger, Dessa Zavala, Mikayla Guarascio, Leyla Ayala, Mickelly Soyez, Annabelle Buchanan, Lauren Roberts, Cheyenne Washington, and Marisa Carranza. 

We celebrate the dedication and hard work of these senior athletes who have left a lasting impact on the Tabor College Softball team. Their leadership, commitment, and perseverance both on and off the field have shaped the program's success and inspired their teammates. As they step into new chapters of their lives, we acknowledge the invaluable contributions they've made to the team's culture, spirit, and legacy. 

Looking ahead to the final weeks of the regular season, the Lady Bluejays will move on to face the Lady Warriors of Sterling College on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. in Sterling with game two following shortly after around 5 p.m. Tabor will enter the doubleheader with a 20-15 overall record and an 11-9 record in KCAC play. The Warriors will enter the contest with an overall record of 26-12 and a conference record of 13-5 on the season. 

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).