INDEPENDENCE, Kan. - The Independence Softball team rallied in game two to salvage a split with Metropolitan CC in their home opener of the 2026 season, dropping game one 12-0, before winning game two 8-7. 

In game one, Metro jumped out to an early lead, plating six runs across the first three innings, while the Pirates were able to get baserunners, but the clutch hit continued to evade them. It was the long ball that haunted the Indy pitchers, as Laci Jensen surrendered three home runs in four innings as a starter, and Athena Broaddus, after a scoreless first inning of relief, surrendered two long balls in her second inning of relief.

The last two long balls for Metro were part of a six run sixth inning that doubled the score and put the game out of reach at 12-0.

Offensively, Na'BraiJhanae Phillips led the way with a pair of hits, finishing the game two for three. 

In game two, the Pirate offense came to life slowly but surely, as they struck first taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. The Pirates scored single runs in both fourth and fifth innings to cut a 4-1 Metro lead down to 4-3. Indy finally broke through for a big inning in the bottom of the sixth, when they plated four runs to take a 7-4 lead into the final inning. The long ball haunted the Pirates one final time, as a three run shot in the top of the seventh kept Metro's chances alive, tying the game at seven. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Kamdyn Minnick led off with a double, but was nearly stranded as the winning run, before Taylor Nixon stepped up as the hero and drove in the winning run with the bases loaded and two outs, giving Indy the 8-7 victory. 

Alexis Yarnell, Londyn Dempster, and Phillips all had multi-hit games, while Yarnell drove in two runs. Nixon reached base four times, including the game winning hit, while Kylie Dennison and Maddison Wammock each drove in a run. Brooklin Phillips got the win in her first start in the circle of the season. 

Independence will have a quick turnaround as they will head to Pratt tomorrow (Thursday), to take on the Beavers.