Softball Shows Fight in Three-Game Home Stand at Carl Adams Field

COLBY, Kan. - Colby softball hosted a busy three-game home stretch at Carl Adams Field, featuring a doubleheader against Barton and a makeup matchup with Pratt this weekend (April 25-26). The Trojans showed consistent offense across the weekend, including multiple home runs and comeback efforts, finishing with a win over Pratt and a split against Barton.

Game 1 vs Barton

Colby used early power and a dominant offensive middle order to secure a 7-5 win over Barton on Saturday (April 25P at Carl Adams Field.

The Trojans struck first in the second inning when Kylan Sorenson blasted a two-run home run to center field, giving Colby an early 2-0 lead. The momentum continued in the third as Briley Christensen delivered a key two-run double, extending the advantage to 4-0.

Barton responded in the middle innings, plating three runs in the fifth to cut into the deficit, and added two more in the seventh to keep pressure on late. However, Colby held on behind timely hitting and a strong start in the circle.

Sorenson continued to impact the game offensively, finishing 1-for-2 with a home run, sacrifice bunt, and three RBIs. Ava Pezely led the Trojans at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3, while Jalyssa Sabatka added a 2-for-3 performance. Christensen also contributed a multi-hit game with a double and two RBIs.

In the circle, Katelyn Zukewich earned the win with a complete-game effort, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits while striking out 10 and walking four. She worked through pressure innings late as Barton attempted to rally.

Barton was led offensively by Laney Wood and Carly Erpelding, who each recorded two hits. Erpelding drove in a run and also drew two walks, while Grace Hembree added two hits and an RBI. The Cougars finished with seven hits and four walks on the day.

Colby finished with eight hits as a team, turned a double play defensively, and used early extra-base hitting to build a lead they would not relinquish.

Game 2 vs Barton

Colby battled back from an early deficit and carried a late lead into the final inning, but Barton delivered a decisive seventh-inning surge to take Game 2 of the doubleheader, 6-4.

Barton struck first in the opening inning when Carly Erpelding launched a solo home run to center field to make it 1-0. The Cougars added to their lead in the third on a fielder's choice by Peyton McCormick, pushing the advantage to 2-0.

Colby answered in the bottom of the third, tying the game at 2-2. Dayana Miller brought home the first run with a groundout, and Briley Christensen followed with an RBI single to even the score.

The Trojans then took their first lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Christensen executed a sacrifice bunt RBI to put Colby ahead, and Kylan Sorenson followed with a clutch RBI single to center, giving the Trojans a 4-2 advantage heading into the late innings.

Colby starter Cheyenne Cramer worked through six innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits with four strikeouts, keeping the Trojans in position to win entering the final frame.

In the top of the seventh, Barton flipped the game. With runners aboard, Erpelding delivered the big swing of the day, crushing a grand slam to left field to put Barton ahead 6-4. The blast accounted for all four runs in the inning and proved to be the difference.

Cramer took the loss, while Ellie Crawford earned the win for Barton after going the distance, allowing five hits and four runs (two earned) with three strikeouts. Offensively, Colby was led by Ava Pezely (1-for-3, 2 runs scored), Briley Christensen (1-for-3, 2 RBIs), and Sorenson (1-for-3, RBI). Jalyssa Sabatka added a double, while Ekker and Zinken each reached and scored once.

Barton finished with nine hits, led by Erpelding's 2-for-3, five-RBI performance including two home runs, while Laney Wood and Shaylee Spears each added two hits.

Colby finished the doubleheader with a split feeling out of reach, as late-inning execution swung the nightcap in Barton's favor.

Game 2 vs Pratt

Colby rallied from an early four-run deficit to defeat Pratt 7-4 in a makeup game on Sunday (April 26), using a late offensive surge and a 14-hit attack to secure the win on sophomore day.

Pratt scored in each of the first four innings to build a 4-0 lead, opening the game with a run in the first inning on a Kennadie Arevalo double, then extending the advantage with an RBI groundout in the second and a run scored on a wild pitch in the third. A fourth run in the top of the fourth pushed the visitors ahead 4-0.

Colby responded in the bottom of the third when Brooklynn Ekker homered to right field to get the Trojans on the board. Emmy Supernor added an RBI sacrifice bunt in the same inning to cut the deficit to 4-2.

The game shifted in the fifth inning when Colby's offense came alive. Supernor delivered again with a two-run home run to center field to tie the game, and Briley Christensen followed with a solo home run to give the Trojans a 5-4 lead. Colby added insurance in the sixth inning, putting together another multi-hit frame to extend the lead to 7-4 and close out the scoring.

Supernor led the way offensively, going 3-for-3 with a double, home run, sacrifice bunt, and three RBIs. Ava Pezely also had a big day, finishing 3-for-4 with three runs scored, while Christensen went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Sabatka added a 2-for-4 performance, and Ekker finished with a home run and RBI.

In the circle, Cheyenne Cramer earned the win, throwing 4.1 innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out six. Alison Nikolaus started the game and worked 2.2 innings, giving up three runs (two earned) with four walks and two strikeouts.

Colby finished with 14 hits as a team and turned the momentum with back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning to complete the comeback win over Pratt.

The weekend highlighted both strengths and missed chances for Colby. The offense produced in key moments and the pitching kept games within reach, but late innings decided two of the three contests. The Trojans finished the home stand 2-1 and now look to carry that offensive momentum into the final two conference series of the regular season. Colby hosts Dodge City on Friday (May 1) for the final home games before hitting the road Saturday (May 2) to close the series in Dodge City.