On the final day of the regular season, the Collinsville softball team split a non-conference doubleheader Friday afternoon with Highland.

Paige Giacoletto / Photo by Sherry Holten

In the first game, the Kahoks (17-18 overall) lost 13-0 in five innings, but they rebounded to defeat Highland 4-1 in the second game.

The trouble started early for the Kahoks in the first game. Highland had seven runs by the time the first inning ended.

Starting pitcher Sidney Bost pitched into the second inning, but after allowing her eighth run on a bases-loaded walk, she was replaced by Addison Wickiser.

Four more runs scored after Wickiser entered, and the Kahoks were down 12-0 after two innings.

Collinsville Head Coach Cindy Kolda said the Kahoks got into trouble early, but there were still some positives to take away following the victory in the second game.

“I think the thing to take away is you can get short gamed by a team, and then you can come around and beat them the next game,” Kolda said. “Any game, anything can happen.”

Collinsville allowed only one more run the rest of the game, but its offense managed just five base runners after the second inning. The team had just two hits in the game. The first was a single from Caitlyn Brombolich, and the second was a double from Samantha Buettner.

While the first game was a short, disappointing one for the Kahoks, the second was a full seven-inning victory.

Collinsville Head Coach Cindy Kolda said the team did a good job and had a big bounce back after the first game.

“Wickiser did a great job on the mound,” Kolda said. “Closing out the first game, and then coming in [the second game], she really shut down some batters today.”

After allowing one run in the first inning, Wickiser settled in and pitched the rest of the game without allowing another. In all, she allowed eight hits, walked two batters and struck out two more.

In the bottom of the fourth, trailing 1-0, the Kahoks’ offense woke up. After the first batter grounded out, third baseman Alex Holten hit a single. Bost moved Holten over with a single.

Right fielder Kadie Ringering, center fielder Becky Gibbs and shortstop Audrey Allard followed Bost with three more singles. Ringering’s hit tied the game, and Allard drove in the game-winning run.

Brombolich drew a walk with the bases loaded to finish the scoring in the inning and to give the Kahoks a 3-1 lead.

Kolda said it was good to see the team make the small plays.

“Everybody was doing their job,” Kolda said. “They played very well.”

In the sixth inning, Bost led off with a single and then moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt from Ringering.

Gibbs singled and moved Bost to third, where she was able to score the final run of the day on a groundball. Gibbs finished the second game 2-for-2.

Allard was 1-for-4 in the game with two RBIs. Brombolich was 0-for-2, but drew two walks, one with the bases loaded.

Bost and third baseman Alex Holten were 2-for-3.

Collinsville’s next game is a Regional match-up against Belleville East at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 27.

On April 17, the Lancers beat the Kahoks 10-0. Collinsville lost to Belleville East again May 16 by a score of 5-3.

“One time, they beat us pretty bad. The second time, we made it close,” Kolda said. “Hopefully, the third time’s the charm.”