Park University's softball team started the season off well with three wins in Kansas City, Kan. on Sunday and Monday at the 2024 Kansas City NAIA Invitational hosted at Home Field Complex.

GAME 1 | Columbia College, 8-0 | Box Score

The game began with a bang as Halle Magee doubled to left center for Park. Kal Day made it look easy at the plate with a two-run home run to stun the Cougars out of the gate.
The offense backed up their starter in the circle Dakota Rau, who pitched a complete game shutout on three strikeouts, zero walks, and only three hits.

Another round of extra base-hits came in the top of the third, Magee with an identical double for an RBI and then Shelby Sanders jacked a triple in the four-run, three hit third inning.
The Pirates breezed through their first game 8-0 in five innings.

GAME 2 | No. 10 Midland, 4-2 | Box Score

Caroline Riffer, the standout transfer from Columbus Community College, showed off some power and her speed with a lead-off triple to begin the game against Midland. She then would score on a wild pitch by the Warriors.

The bottom of the third was the next score for the Pirates, as Chloe Gilbert did her job at the plate with a simple ground ball to second base with less than two outs to score Magee from third.

Lauren Fiene held the Warriors at bay with five plus innings pitched and five strikeouts. Midland broke through in the top of the sixth inning with two back-to-back doubles. A costly past ball would help Midland get to third base and eventually score on an RBI base-hit. Nia Muniz kept her composure in the circle and held Midland to just the two runs on a strikeout and ground out.

Muniz gave her team a chance in the top of the seventh and maintained the tie, 2-2. She would become the pitcher of record and earn the win after a two-out rally by Park in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Riffer ran out a bunt single to extend the inning and then her teammate Magee ended it with one swing of the bat with a screaming line-drive to right center for a two-run home run and the walk-off win.

GAME 3 | Mayville State, 3-0 | Box Score

Abbie Farmer got the start against Mayville State University and had a great outing with five innings pitched in a shutout win. Muniz would be called upon again for the last two innings of work, which earned her the save.

Gilbert opened up the second inning with a lead-off single and then with two outs, Alexis Parra came through in the clutch for an RBI single to center field.

More two out magic came in the top of the sixth inning, as Riffer singled then stole second base. Magee would score Riffer from second on a single down the left field line. An error by Mayville helped Park to a second run on a three hit inning, sealing the 3-0 victory.

GAME 4 | (RV) Bellevue, 2-4 | Box Score

The Bruins of Bellevue was able to take down the Pirates late in the last game of the weekend. Both pitchers looked with only three earned runs combined in the game. Bellevue held Park to only four hits, while Rau and Fiene only allowed five hits themselves.

A lead-off double in the fourth inning by Magee got Park started. A single by Sanders and a Bruin error allowed Magee to score. Dani-Quinn Klein did a job to score the second run on a sacrifice fly to centerfield as well.

Bellevue got a charge in them from a solo home run in the fifth inning off of Rau. Fiene would take the ball the rest of the way and got out of the top of the fifth with a strikeout with the bases loaded.

Fiene was able to pitch around an error in the sixth inning to keep it 2-1, but not in the seventh inning, as two more errors came that allowed three unearned runs to score. The Pirates were unable to get anything going in the bottom of the seventh offensively, as Bellevue outlasted Park, 4-2.

The Pirates will be in Kansas City, Mo. in their next games on Saturday, February 24 against Avila University with a doubleheader starting at noon.