Comets split twin bill with Evangel in season-opener

SPRINGFIELD — In their first competition as official members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the Cottey Comet softball team earned a twinbill split with Evangel University Friday in Springfield.

Cottey (1-1) prevailed in the high-scoring opener, 16-13, and was then edged in the nightcap, 3-1.

Cottey 16, Evangel 13

Cottey sophomore Sage Fluty keyed the game one offensive explosion, with a two-RBI single in the first — and later broke the contest open with a two-RBI double.

Freshman Morgan Gamboa, meanwhile, had a big debut for the Comets, as the California native finished 3-for-4 with a double, walk and four RBI. Cottey junior second baseman Izzy Milligan, and sophomore Cailin Fluty, chipped in three runs apiece.

Despite yielding 13 hits and six earned runs over 4 1/3 innings of work, Cottey sophomore Emily Killion (1-0) emerged with the victory.

Evangel 3, Cottey 1

Cailin Fluty (0-1) started game two, and was saddled with the loss — allowing six hits and three runs, while walking a pair and striking out a batter over four frames of work.

“Cailin gave up some unlucky hits,” said Cottey head coach Mark Skapin, of the darkness-shortened nightcap.

Skapin added that Fluty’s rough inning was punctuated by a run-scoring base-knock.

After erupting for 16 runs in the opener, the Comets were unable to get anything going in the second game. Their best opportunity came in the top of the fifth, with sophomore Ashlyn Robertson at the plate.

The Nixa, Missouri native, however, failed to capitalize, stranding the bases loaded — as Cottey mustered just two hits for the contest.

UP NEXT

The Comets return to the diamond Saturday, Feb. 23 for their home-opener, as Cottey hosts the visiting Bethany College (Kan.) Swedes for a twinbill. The opener is slated for 2 p.m. at Vanek Family Field, with the nightcap to follow at 4. See a future edition for all the latest