Friday, Apr. 17, 2009

Eagles softball splits again

Olathe North's softball team might consider changing its mascot to the banana considering the number of splits the Eagles have been involved in since Sunflower League play started.

North, which has played four doubleheaders this season, came away with its third split Thursday against Free State in Lawrence.

The Eagles, who lost 6-2 before bouncing back with a 3-2 win, never recovered from a four-run, two-error first inning in the opening game.

Sophomore Megan McCracken led off the second with home run and sophomore Rachel Hein helped her own cause with an RBI single later in the inning, but that's all the offense North mustered against Free State starter Megan Smith.

Behind junior Mo O'Connor, who started the second game and struck out 16, Sam Talley staked the Eagles to a 1-0 lead with a fourth-inning, solo home run.

The Firebirds got two in the sixth to grab the lead — and threaten to sweep. But North took advantage of three Free State errors and singles by Hein and Kim Schaid in rallying to the lead.

First game

FREE STATE 6, OLATHE NORTH 2

ON (4-4) 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 — 2 3 3

FS (4-5) 4 0 0 0 0 2 x — 6 8 0

W — Megan Smith. L — Rachel Hein (2-4). HR — ON, Megan McCracken (2).

Second game

OLATHE NORTH 3, FREE STATE 2

ON (5-4) 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 — 3 8 2

FS (4-6) 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 — 2 4 4

W — Mo O'Connor (3-0). L — Megan Smith. HR — ON, Sam Talley (1).

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