OTTAWA, Kan.  – On Friday afternoon, the Lady Bluejays hit the road once again to take on KCAC rival Ottawa University for an Easter weekend doubleheader nearing the end of the regular season. Tabor's split with Sterling earlier in the week put them at a 12-10 conference record with just two remaining doubleheaders left. 
 
Going into the series with the Braves, Tabor held a 21-16 overall record. Ottawa boasted an overall record of 25-19 and a conference record of 15-7 on the season. Last year's matchup between the two teams resulted in a series split, and they later met up at the KCAC Tournament in May, where the Bluejays took the 6-1 victory to advance through the bracket. 
 
GAME ONE: L, 1-9
 
The top of the first inning was quiet for Tabor, with one walk and no hits, but Ottawa showed their explosive offense in the bottom of the inning almost immediately. The Braves racked up six runs on seven hits, highlighted by key RBI doubles from Zoe Butts and Mallory Dunn, and a two-RBI triple by Megan Kennedy. The Bluejay defense was unable to stop the momentum as the Braves quickly took control of the game.

The second inning continued Ottawa's offensive momentum, with the Braves adding two more runs to extend their lead to 8-0. Tabor got on the board in the third, sparked by a double from Lauren Roberts and an RBI single from Reyna Enriquez. However, despite the brief offensive surge, they only managed to put one run on the scoreboard. Ottawa responded again in the bottom of the third, taking advantage of a fielding error in the outfield to push the score to 9-1, effectively quelling any hopes of a comeback.

GAME TWO: L, 4-5

In game two, Tabor jumped out to an early lead thanks to a strong start at the plate. Payten Staley led off with a single and, after two quick outs, Cheyenne Washington blasted a two-run home run to left field, putting Tabor ahead 2-0 in the top of the first. Ottawa answered in the bottom of the inning, eventually scoring on a double and cutting the lead in half. 

The Bluejay offense picked up again in the third with a single from Mylee Milne, and after a pinch-runner was brought in, Darcy Gillen launched a two-run home run of her own to extend the lead to 4-1. That momentum didn't last long, and in the bottom of the third, Ottawa capitalized on a pair of walks and aggressive base running to tie the game at 3-3. Butts doubled in a run, and additional pressure on the bases led to another score. Tabor collected a couple more hits over the next two innings, including a double by Washington, but couldn't convert those opportunities into runs, leaving valuable chances on the table.

The turning point came in the bottom of the sixth, when Ottawa took advantage of key moments to take the 5-2 lead. Tabor tried to respond in the seventh when Staley singled again, but the offense stalled and the game concluded with another Bluejay loss. 

Looking ahead to the regular season finale, the Lady Bluejays will return home to face the Lady Threshers of Bethel College on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Hillsboro Sports Complex with game two following shortly after around 5 p.m. Tabor will enter the doubleheader with a 21-18 overall record and a 12-12 record in KCAC play. The Threshers will enter the contest with an overall record of 10-25 and a conference record of 6-18 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).