Kambree Bryson comes up clutch on senior night

In front of a large crowd consisting of both Abilene and Chapman softball fans, the Abilene Cowgirls rallied with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn a 5-4 victory in game two of their double header.  On what was senior night for the home team Cowgirls, senior Kambree Bryson delivered what may have been her biggest hit of her high school career by connecting on a two out, two RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning that drove in the tying and game winning runs against the Lady Irish.  

In the opening game Chapman cruised to a 10-0 shutout victory in five innings behind one of the most dominant pitchers in the state in senior Maddie Harold.  Harold would give up only one hit in the game on her way to her 12th win of the season. Her senior counterpart Brooklyn Haaga started the game for the Cowgirls and pitched just one inning in the game. Haaga who has spent a majority of the season injured made a courageous effort to play for the team on senior night.  Sophomore Charlie Elliott would come in the game in relief beginning in the second inning, and finish pitching the final four innings of the game.

The Lady Irish took control of the game early as they scored two runs in the first inning , three runs in the second inning, and two more runs in the third inning to lead 7-0.   Abilene’s only hit of the game would come in the bottom of the fourth inning when freshman Joelle Nichols would single to center field. Chapman would go on add their final three runs of the game in the top of the fifth inning for the 10-0 final.  

The Lady Irish would have four players collect multiple hits in the game and were led by freshman Anna Martinez who was 3-3 with 2 RBI’s in the game.  Senior Kaci Heller and sophomores Jai Rogers and McKenzie Leighty all contributed with two hits apiece.

The second game of the doubleheader would see Abilene earn their biggest victory of season with a 5-4 come from behind win in the bottom of the seventh inning.  A very solid pitching effort by starter KaiLee Crane would keep the Cowgirls in the game and within striking distance.   

Abilene would lead 3-0 after three complete innings. In the second inning they would take advantage of a lead off single by Bryson, a sacrifice fly by Elliott, and an error to lead 2-0.  A RBI single by Joelle Nichols in the bottom of the third inning would then give them their 3-0 lead.  

Chapman would then score four unanswered runs through the next three innings to take a 4-3 lead heading into the final seventh inning. Freshman starting pitcher Olivia Harold would finish pitching four complete innings and give way to her sister senior Maddie Harold who entered the game in the fifth inning with hopes of shutting down the the Cowgirls to preserve their one run lead.  

Abilene’s offense would be shut down in the fifth and sixth inning before rallying for the victory in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs. Joelle Nichols would draw a two out walk that would be immediately followed by a Josie Keener double to right field. With two runners in scoring position senior Kambree Bryson then connected on a game ending base hit to centerfield that would drive in both Nichols and Keener for the 5-4 victory.  

The Cowgirls will next host NCKL foe and two time defending state champion Wamego this coming Friday night.  

Chapman 2 3 2 0 3 x x – 10-12-0

Abilene    0 0 0 0 0 x x –    0-1-3

3B – Rogers, Sholtz, O. Harold

RBI – Rogers, Lighty, M. Harold, Martinez, O. Harold 2, Heller 2.

SB – Rogers 2, Leighty, M. Harold   

Haaga  1IP 5H 5R 4ER 0BB 1KO

Elliott   4IP 7H 5R 3ER 1BB 1KO

M.Harold 5IP 1H 0R 0ER 1BB 6KO

Chapman  0 0 0 1 2 1 0 – 4-8-4

Abilene     0 2 1 0 0 0 2 – 5-5-2

RBI – Leighty, Gustafson, Scholtz, Martinez; Nichols, Bryson 2, Elliot.

Crane   7IP 8H 4R 1ER 3BB 2KO

O. Harold   4IP 4H 3R 1ER 4BB 3KO

M. Harold 2.2IP 3H 2R 2ER 2BB 5KO