Indian pitcher goes deep twice and drives in all five of HINU's runs during doubleheader

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Haskell junior Samantha Robertson does not usually play on the softball fields at Free State High School, but she played as if she was right at home, slamming two home runs in the Indians' double-header loss to Sterling College, Monday night. Robertson went deep with a runner on in game one, which her team lost 7-2, and then sent another one over the fence in the second, this time with two runners on, as HINU lost 7-3.

"Sam has been struggling here as of late and has been trying to hit the ball too hard," explained HINU head coach Joe Bointy. "Today she made some good solid contact and the ball jumped out of the park for her."

Despite the two Robertson long balls, Haskell drops to 0-8 with the two defeats, while Sterling College improved to 8-17 on the season.

The twin bill took on a different feel before a pitch was even thrown as the match-up was moved across town from Haskell to Free State because of the muddy conditions the field was left in over the rainy weekend. A rare twi-night doubleheader was played with HINU as the home team as the high school lighted the field of play.

Robertson, who toed the rubber in the first would give herself and her team a boost with a two-run homer (her first on the night) in the bottom of the first, which would put her team up 2-0. The Indians would hold that lead for three innings, before the Warriors bats awoke to the tune of five runs in the top of the fifth. Robertson would surrender only one hit in the fourth before Sterling's Jessica Steere beat out an infield single. That would lead to a wild pitch, a walk before a SC double tied the game up and cleared the way for the five run Warrior rally. The visitors would tack on two more insurance runs in the top of the sixth, before closing out the Indians for the hard fought 7-2 win.

Robertson, the offensive star of the game would go seven full innings, surrendering seven runs on nine hits, while walking five and striking out five.

Game number two began just as the first one ended, with Sterling scoring often. The Warriors put up two in the first, four in the second and one in the third, for an early 7-0 lead before Samantha Robertson would strike again, this time with a three-run homer to left. As Robertson crossed home plate to the handshakes and high fives of her teammates, she put her team within striking distance at 7-3.

As Haskell took the field in the top of the sixth, the lights would go out on their rally, quite literally as the numerous lights at Free State's field would go out, leaving the field of play darkened and the Indians' hopes of a comeback dashed. The game was called in the top of the sixth and the two teams put a wrap on the evening of play.

Going the shortened distance for HINU during the second game was Kendall Calderon, who tossed five innings and gave up seven runs on nine hits, while walking two and striking out three.

Head coach Joe Bointy's club will have a short time to regroup before they get back to the friendly confines of Haskell Field, Tuesday afternoon with a doubleheader match-up against Crowley's Ridge College. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m., with the second game to begin the 4 p.m. vicinity.