During a busy end of week schedule that saw the Cowgirls play four games in two days, Abilene High School head softball coach LouAna Taplin earned her 100th career victory.  

The milestone victory would come on Thursday evening against Concordia as the Cowgirls won the second game of the double header by a score of 12-4. Abilene would split games with the Lady Panthers, and go on to lose a pair of close games on Friday evening at home against Buhler.

Despite losing the opening game against the Concordia Lady Panthers 2-0, starting pitcher Charlie Elliott had a solid performance only giving up two runs in the loss.  The Cowgirls struggled offensively as they only had one base hit in the game by senior Tailyn Needham.  The Abilene offense would come to life in the second game as it would lead them to a 12-4 victory.  

Combined, the Cowgirls would accumulate 10 hits, and were led by senior Jordan Signer with two hits, and four RBI’s.  Three other players would also collect two hits in the game including Joelle Nichols, Lizzie Brooks, and Elissa Sweat.  Starting pitcher KaiLee Crane would earn the victory on the mound as she gave up four runs in the complete seven inning game.

Abilene returned to action the next day, and lost two low scoring close games against the visiting Buhler Lady Crusaders.  The Cowgirls dropped the opener 5-3 after giving up two runs late in the game.  

After falling behind early Abilene battled back and tied the game 3-3 on a Tailyn Needham single to right field in the bottom of the fourth inning.  The score would remain tied through the fifth inning before Buhler would add what ended up being the winning runs in the top of the sixth inning for the 5-3 final.  

Neeham would offensively lead the Cowgirls in the game with two hits and two RBI’s.  Despite a solid effort on the mound, starting pitcher Charlie Elliott would suffer the loss by allowing five total runs while giving up 10 hits in seven complete innings.

Abilene would then lose game two of the doubleheader in another low scoring 5-2 game. Buhler would score two runs in the top of the first, two runs in the top of the sixth, and a single run in the top of the seventh to lead 5-0.  The Cowgirls only two runs of the game would be in the bottom of the seventh and final inning for the 5-2 final.  A pair of errors, and an RBI single by Elissa Sweat would lead to the two Abilene runs.  KaiLee Crane would suffer the loss in the game as she allowed five total runs while giving up six hits in seven complete innings.

The Cowgirls now 4-16 overall next prepare to host a pair of double headers against Chapman on Tuesday evening, and Wamego on Friday evening.

Abilene  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -0-1-0

CHS     0 0 0 2 0 0 x -2-4-2 Abilene Pitching:

Elliott- 6IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 1 BB, 5KO (L)

AHS  1 0 1 4 4 0 2 -12-10-2 CHS   0 1 1 0 0 1 1 – 4-14-2    2B –  L. Brooks

SB – J. Keener, T. Needham

Crane – 7IP, 14H, 4R, 3ER, 3BB, 8KO (W)

Buhler 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 – 5-10-2 Abilene 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 – 3-8-4 2B –  J. Keener

Elliott- 7IP, 10H, 5R, 4ER, 1BB, 4KO (L)

Buhler  2 0 0 0 0 2 1 – 5-6-3 Abilene 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 – 2-5-2

Crane- 7IP, 6H, 5R, 3ER, 3BB, 2KO (L)