Colby Varsity Eagles Struggle in Doubleheader Losses to Liberal

by Derek White

The Colby Varsity Eagles were handed two tough defeats on Thursday, falling 17-2 and 13-2 to Liberal in a doubleheader at home. Despite some solid individual performances, the Eagles struggled to keep pace with a strong Liberal squad that showcased both offensive power and defensive consistency.

In the first game, Liberal wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Zoey Torres led off the game with a single to center field, and Taylor Harding scored after tagging up. Lexi Miller’s groundout later allowed the second run to cross, putting Liberal ahead 2-0. The Eagles’ defense faltered in the second inning, as an error allowed two more runs to score. Miley Janko singled to drive in another run, followed by Allie Champion's RBI single. A second error added another run, giving Liberal a commanding 7-0 lead by the second inning.

Liberal continued its offensive onslaught in the third, with Harding and Torres each adding singles to bring home a pair of runs. The lead grew even further in the fourth inning as Liberal scored five more runs, capitalizing on another error and singles from Harding and Champion. Colby could not recover from the early deficit, managing only two runs in the game.

On the mound, Torres earned the win for Liberal, pitching four strong innings while allowing seven hits and two runs. She struck out four and walked just one. Ryler Carter took the loss for Colby, allowing 12 runs (three earned) on 10 hits over four innings, striking out five and walking three.

Sadie Cheney led Colby’s offense, driving in both of the team’s runs. She went 1-for-2, while Jalyssa Sabatka, Carter, Karli Hills, Madison Hull, Briley Kleinsorge, and Kenlie Miller each contributed a hit. Despite their efforts, Colby struggled to break through against Liberal’s defense, which remained flawless throughout the game.

The second game was more of the same for Colby. Liberal jumped out to an early lead with a solo home run to center field in the second inning. The offense exploded in the third inning, scoring five runs on three hits, including an error that allowed one run to score and another error that brought home three more. A double from #14 capped off the inning, giving Liberal a commanding 6-0 lead.

The Eagles found some life in the fourth, when Cheney blasted a home run to left field, bringing in two runs. However, Liberal responded with another five-run inning, highlighted by doubles from #4, #24, #7, and #3. The Eagles could not recover, ultimately falling 13-2.

Liberal’s #3 earned the win, allowing just three hits and two runs over four innings while striking out five and walking two. Karli Hills took the loss for Colby, giving up 13 runs (seven earned) on 12 hits in five innings, striking out two and walking one.

Cheney again provided the spark for Colby’s offense, going 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Ryler Carter and Briley Kleinsorge also added hits for Colby, but the team struggled to generate consistent offense against Liberal's pitching staff. Meanwhile, Liberal had a well-rounded attack, with #3, #20, and #16 each contributing two hits. #7 drove in two runs to lead Liberal’s offensive charge.

Despite the lopsided results, Colby will look to bounce back in their next game. The team will face off against Lakin on Friday, with hopes of returning to form and earning a much-needed victory. With their resilient spirit, the Eagles are eager to take on their next challenge at home.