HUTCHINSON — Larned’s softball team overpowered winless Nickerson 12-2 and 15-3 for a doubleheader sweep at the Fun Valley complex. Nickerson committed 20 errors in the twin bill.
LARNED 12, NICKERSON 2 (G1) — Larned’s Mattie Glover struck out seven batters to earn the victory. Myrick, Mattie Glover and Kendra Grandy each drove home three runs. Myrick tripled home Baylea Perez and Alea Makings for a 2-0 first-inning lead. Grandy scored on an error after singling home Nikki Taylor for a 4-1 lead after two innings.
Grandy’s two-run double scored Julie Tapia and Taylor for a 6-1 lead. Myrick stole home for Larned’s seventh-run. Abby Towery and Grandy scored as the Panthers committed four consecutive errors. Glover’s triple scored Perez, Makings and Myrick for a 12-2 lead.
A dozen Nickerson errors and six walks led to nine unearned runs. Skylar Eidson scored on Brakelle Bullock’s first-inning groundout and Brylee Engelland singled and scored on Megan King’s fourth-inning single.
LARNED 15, NICKERSON 3 (G1) — Larned pitcher Mattie Glover stuck out seven batters to earn the victory. Larned scored 13 unearned runs on eight Nickerson errors to rally from a 3-1 deficit.
Tapia’s single scored Makings for Larned’s first run.
Four errors ignited Larned’s eight-run fourth inning. Perez delivered a two-run single and Grandy and Perez scored on an error. Tapia followed with a two-run single and Tapia and Glover scored on an error for a 9-3 lead.
The Indians added six fifth-inning runs. Myrick doubled home two runs and she scored on an error. Glover scored on an error and Taylor and Grandy finished the rally with RBI singles for a 15-3 lead.
Panther pitcher Brooke Engelland provided a few innings of inspiration. Engelland pitched 31/3 innings against Larned after a two-year battle with Ewing’s sarcoma, a form of cancer. Engelland has played in appearances in volleyball and basketball since her original diagnosis June 23, 2016. Engelland permitted one earned run. The Panthers achieved another first — they led Larned 3-1 for three innings.
Skylar Eidson doubled and scored on Kenzi Faulkner’s groundout. Brooke Engelland’s single scored Brakelle Bullock. Kylee Stucky scored on Eidson’s grounder for a 3-1 lead.
Larned 222 15 — 12 6 1
Nickerson 100 10 — 2 3 12
Myrick and Martin. Eidson and Brylee Engelland. 2B—L—Glover. 3B—L—Myrick.
Larned 100 86 — 15 11 4
Nickerson 210 00 — 3 4 8
Glover and Martin. Brooke Engelland, Kaufman (4) and Eidson. 2B—L—Myrick; N—Eidson.