Softball Explodes for 42 Runs in Doubleheader Domination

GOODLAND, Kan. — The Colby Trojans softball team delivered an overwhelming offensive performance Wednesday (April 8) afternoon, sweeping Fort Hays Tech NW in emphatic fashion, 25–4 and 17–2, in a doubleheader that was never in doubt. They outscored their opponent 42–6 across five-inning run-rule victories.

Game 1

Colby wasted no time asserting control in the opener, erupting for six runs in the top of the first inning behind a barrage of extra-base hits and disciplined at-bats. Brooke Zinken and Ava Pezely set the table early, and Briley Christensen delivered the first big blow with a two-RBI double to left field. Moments later, Katelyn Zukewich and Brooklynn Ekker followed with RBI doubles of their own. The inning was punctuated by a sacrifice fly from Aly Richardson that turned into two runs after a defensive miscue in the outfield, giving Colby a commanding 6–0 advantage before the Tigers could record a response.

The Trojans continued to apply pressure in the second inning, adding another run on Zukewich's sacrifice fly, but it was the third inning that completely broke the game open. Colby plated 11 runs on a combination of timely hitting and defensive breakdowns by Fort Hays Tech. Emmy Supernor drove in a run with a single, followed by RBI hits from Richardson and Pezely, the latter delivering a two-run single to extend the lead into double digits. Jalyssa Sabatka delivered a highlight moment with an RBI triple to center field. Pezely capped the inning with an RBI double, and by the time the dust settled, Colby had built an 18–2 lead and firmly seized control.

Even with the outcome all but decided, the Trojans showed no signs of slowing down in the fourth inning. Ekker continued her standout day with a two-RBI single, while Lucy Davis drove in two more runs on a play that again exposed defensive struggles for Fort Hays Tech. Sabatka, Zinken, and Olivia Wirth each contributed RBIs later in the inning, pushing the lead to 25–4 and effectively closing the book on a dominant Game 1 performance.

Colby finished the opener with 16 hits and 25 runs, led by Pezely's four-hit, three-RBI effort and Ekker's four RBIs. Sabatka added three hits, including a triple, while Supernor reached base multiple times and scored four runs. In the circle, Cheyenne Cramer worked three innings, striking out four, before Aubree Trujillo entered in relief and delivered two scoreless innings to secure the run-rule victory. Fort Hays Tech managed just three hits in the game and was undone by nine defensive errors.

Game 2 

Game 2 followed a similar script, with Colby jumping out early and never looking back. The Trojans manufactured two runs in the first inning, capitalizing on a sacrifice fly from Dayana Miller and a passed ball to take an early lead. After Fort Hays Tech briefly answered with a run of its own, Colby responded immediately with a five-run second inning that put the game out of reach. Ella McDonald drove in a run with a single, Isabella Malone delivered a two-RBI double, and Zinken capped the inning with a two-run single to extend the lead to 7–1.

From there, the Trojans turned to power to widen the gap. Brooklynn Ekker delivered one of the most dominant offensive performances of the day, launching two home runs and driving in four runs. Malone added a home run of her own, while Alison Nikolaus contributed from both sides of the game, pitching effectively and helping her cause with a solo home run in the fifth inning. The long ball barrage underscored Colby's offensive depth, as multiple players contributed to a lineup that consistently produced from top to bottom.

Colby continued to tack on runs throughout the middle and late innings, with Zinken adding an RBI triple and Leone Suamatai'a contributing an RBI groundout. By the end of the fifth inning, the Trojans had once again crossed the run-rule threshold, securing a 17–2 victory and completing the sweep in dominant fashion.

The Trojans totaled 14 hits in Game 2, with Ekker, Zinken, Malone, and McDonald all recording multi-hit performances. Zinken finished with four RBIs, while Malone added three, and Ekker's two-home-run performance highlighted a day in which Colby's offense proved nearly impossible to contain. In the circle, Nikolaus struck out five over four innings, allowing just one hit, while Trujillo once again provided a steady presence in relief to close out the game.

Across the doubleheader, Colby's dominance was evident in every statistical category. The Trojans out-hit Fort Hays Tech 30–4. 

Colby will now host a non-conference doubleheader Thursday (April 9) against No. 20 McCook who comes in as one of the hottest teams in the country, boasting a 34-4 overall record and riding a 10-game winning streak. Their success has been fueled by a dominant offense that features five players hitting over .400 on the season.