Great Bend's softball team enjoyed a rare run-rule day. The Panthers swept Bucklin 11-1 and 16-1 Thursday keyed by dominant pitching and powerful hitting.
The doubleheader started in 73-degree weather and ended with the chill temperature hitting 37 degrees with a 25 mph north wind.
GREAT BEND 11, BUCKLIN 1 (G1) — Shanaeia Mehlhaff threw a one-hitter as Great Bend’s bats broke loose for an 11-1 run-rule victory. Bucklin’s Sorel Peterson alertly scampered home when the Panthers dropped the ball after tagging Hailey Moore out at second base.
The Panthers scored two runs in the first three innings and scored five fourth-inning runs.
Jenna Mauler singled home Alyssa Keller after a triple. Shanaeia Mehlhaff singled home Mauler for a 2-0 lead. Aleah Urban doubled home Mara Fletchall in a two-run second inning. Keller singled home Urban for a 4-0 lead.
Fletchall singled home Kaylee Unruh after a third-inning double. Keller forced home Cailee McMullen on a bases-loaded walk for a 6-0 lead.
Mara Fletchall delivered a two-run double and Kaylee Unruh added an RBI single in a five-run fourth inning.
GREAT BEND 16, BUCKLIN 1 (G2) — Shailey Clark drilled a three-run first-inning homer to ignite a 15-run victory. Kaylee Unruh singled four times and scored three runs. Reliever Sarah Mehlhaff earned the victory.
Bucklin led 1-0 when Hailey Moore singled home Sorel Peterson.
The Panthers scored eight first-inning runs started by Clark's three-run homer. Sydney Unruh drilled a two-run single and the Panthers scored on a bases-loaded walk, hit batter and wild pitch.
Three runs scored on errors and Sydney Unruh scored on a second-inning wild pitch for a 12-1 lead. Kaylee Unruh and Cailee McMullen scored on passed balls for a 14-1 lead. Williams singled home Sarah Mehlhaff for the game-ending run.
Bucklin 000 10 — 1 1 3
Great Bend 222 5x — 11 14 1
Kirk and Warden. Shanaeia Mehlhaff and Kaylee Unruh. W— Shanaeia Mehlhaff, 1-1. L—Kirk. 2B—GB—Keylee Unruh 2, Urban, Mara Fletchall. 3B—GB—Keller.
Bucklin 100 0 — 1 2 3
Great Bend 843 1 — 16 9 1
Kirk and Warden. Shanaeia Mehlhaff, Sarah Mehlhaff (2) and K. Unruh. W—Sarah Mehlhaff, 1-1. L—Kirk. HR—GB—Clark.
WAC SOFTBALL
Dodge City 6-0
Liberal 4-0
Hays High 2-0
Great Bend 2-2
Garden City 0-0
TUESDAY
McPherson 11, Great Bend 5
Manhattan 5, Great Bend 4
THURSDAY
Great Bend 11-1, 16-1 Bucklin
Dodge City 30-2, 25-0 Wichita South
FRIDAY
Hays at Abilene
Valley Center at Garden City
DODGE CITY (6-0)—WW McPherson 7-5, 16-6; WW Hays-TMP 10-0, 12-2; WW Wichita South 30-0, 25-2; 4-4—*Hays High; 4-11—at Wichita Heights; 4-16—*Great Bend; 4-25—at Ulysses; 4-29—*at Garden City; 5-3/5-4—at Emporia; 5-9—*Liberal;
LIBERAL (4-0)—WW Ulysses 20-1, 10-6; WW Scott City 8-5, 14-2; 4-5—*at Great Bend; 4-16—*Garden City; 4-19—at Wichita Southeast; 4-25—at Elkhart; 4-30—*Hays High; 5-2—at Stanton County; 5-6—at Hugoton; 5-9—*at Dodge City
HAYS HIGH (2-0)—WW—Goodland 14-0, 18-2; 3-29—at Abilene; 4-2—*Garden City; 4-4—*Dodge City; 4-8—Hays-TMP; 4-12—at Colby; 4-19—*Great Bend; 4-25—Salina Sacred Heart/Hays TMP; 4-30—*at Liberal; 5-3—Goddard/at Maize High; 5-7—Salina South/at McPherson
GARDEN CITY (0-0)—3-29—Valley Center; 4-2—*at Hays High; 4-4—at Hays-TMP; 4-6—at Wichita North; 4-16—*at Liberal; 4-18—Colby; 4-23—Arkansas City/at Derby; 4-25—*Great Bend; 4-29—*Dodge City; 5-3/4—at Emporia; 5-7—Goodland
GREAT BEND (2-2)—L McPherson 5-11; L Manhattan 4-5; WW Bucklin 11-1, 16-1; 4-5—*Liberal; 4-9—Kingman; 4-16—*at Dodge City; 4-18—Ellinwood/at Hoisington; 4-19—*at Hays High; 4-25—*at Garden City; 5-2—Hays-TMP; 5-7—Hutchinson
