More Bonython bombs barrel Labette past Eastern Oklahoma State

“We did a good job of executing offensively,” Labette head coach Ryan Phillips said. “The only thing we really need to make sure of is not letting multiple mistakes happen defensively. But we had two good pitching outings. Eastern is definitely a good team and we did a great job responding after our losses last week.”

Bonython blasted her fourth and fifth home runs of the season on the year.

Her second bomb of the day in Game 2 was estimated to travel at least 280 feet over the left-center fence.

For context, Jocelyn Alo, the Oklahoma Sooners star that set the NCAA career record for home runs last spring, played at a field where the distance from home plate to the center field wall is 220 feet.

Labette assistant coach Audrey Miller, herself a former NJCAA All-American and one of the best power hitters in school history, said that she’d never seen a ball hit that far in person.

Bonython is on pace to break the school’s single-season record for home runs.

“With teams seeing that she’s seeing the ball well, she’s got to continue to be a selective hitter,” Phillips said. “She doesn’t chase stuff out of the zone. She’ll take a walk. That’s a good mindset she has. We do a pretty good job of having hitters behind her where pitchers have to throw to her. That gives Hayley the opportunity to hit.” 

Despite being short-staffed with pitcher Raven Hough unavailable, the Cardinals got a pair of solid outings from Lexi Miller and Ellie Facklam.

Miller held Eastern Oklahoma State to six hits and one earned run while striking out three batters in Game 1.

“She did a great job,” Phillips said. “I didn’t tell her until the morning that she was throwing Game 1. But there’s no difference. Game 1 and Game 2 are both college games you have to win. Eastern has a great offense. To hold them to one run, she did that by keeping them off balance.” 

Facklam earned the Game 2 victory in the circle while tallying four hits offensively in the series.

The two wins improved Labette’s record to 4-4 overall.

Up Next

Labette travels Arkansas-Rich Mountain on Thursday.

LABETTE VS. EASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE

Game 1

Labette 3, Eastern Oklahoma State 1

Eastern: 100 000 0 — 1

Labette:  100 020 x — 3

Notes

Labette: Keira Jackson 1 H, 2 R; Hayley Bonython 2 H, 1 R, 2 RBI; Ellie Facklam 2 H; Maggie McKee 1 H; Emma Welch 1 H; Lexi Miller (W) 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

Eastern Oklahoma State: Vela 1 H, 1 R; Martin 1 H, 1 RBI; King 1 H; Johnson 1 H; Anderson 2 H; Martin (L) 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 K

Game 2

Labette 11, Eastern Oklahoma State 5

Eastern: 010 310 0 — 5

Labette:  410 411 x — 11

Notes

Labette: Winter Snyder 3 R; Keira Jackson 2 H, 2 R, 1 RBI; Hayley Bonython 2 H, 3 R, 1 RBI; Ellie Facklam 2 H, 1 R, 3 RBI; Maggie McKee 1 H, 1 R, 2 RBI; Emma Welch 1 H, 1 R, 2 RBI; Abby Tubach 1 H, 1 RBI; Facklam (W) 7 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Eastern Oklahoma State: Vela 2 H, 2 RBI; Feazle 1 H, 1 RBI; Ells 1 H; Johnson 1 H; Barron 1 H; Anderson 1 H, 1 R; Linscott 1 R; Grogan 1 R, 2 RBI; Blasengame 2 H, 1 R; Heaton 1 R; Haile (L) 1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K; Brown 3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K; Brassfield 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K