HINU swept on first day of weekend tournament, 9-1, 10-0 and 7-2

HUTCHINSON, Kan. --The Haskell softball team is still searching for its first victory of the 2012 season after dropping the first three games of the Sterling College Tournament, Friday in Hutchinson.

The Indians lost to McPherson College 9-1 in the first game, 10-0 to Friends University in the second and 7-2 to Bethel College in the third and final game of the day. HINU now sits on 0-13 on the season, with two games left to play in the weekend tournament.

Haskell would strike first in the opening game with a hit and an RBI by third baseman Katie Keller-Manuelito in the top of the first to give her team an early 1-0 lead. That slim margin would not hold up for long as the Bulldogs tallied two in the bottom half of the inning for a 2-1 advantage. McPherson tacked on seven more runs in the next five innings to close out the Purple and Gold by the 9-1 score. Going five and two thirds on the rubber was Kendall Calderon, who took the loss. She gave up eight earned runs on 15 hits, while walking three and striking out two.

The second game, HINU would be shutout 10-0, a feat they have avoided all but three times this season.  The final game would pit Haskell against Bethel College out of Mishawaka, Ind., as the Pilots would deny the Indians their first victory, closing out Joe Bointy's crew 7-2.

Haskell will be back in action Saturday morning, with a match-up with Bethany College (Kan.) at 9 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. game against host Sterling College.