March 8, 2026 - The Kishwaukee College Softball team opened up their annual spring trip in Florida over the weekend competing against various teams from across the country. Kish was able to get in all four of their weekend games and here are the results:
Game one Saturday vs Mott CC (MI) Bears
The Kougars were held on in the late innings to be victorious against the Mott Community College Bears 4-2 in the opening game of their annual spring trip to Winter Haven, Florida. Kishwaukee opened the scoring in the first after Allison Abell singled, scoring two runs. A triple by Lilli Delhotal extended the Kish lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third inning. The Kougs survived a late inning threat in the seventh inning to preserve the win. Kaelyn Williams earned the victory in the circle for the Kougars. The right-handed pitcher gave up six hits and two runs over seven innings, striking out nine. Delhotal (triple) and Abell each drove in two runs while teammate Sami Simms went 2-for-3 at the plate. Avery Boehne stole two bases and had a run scored plus Paezleigh Hudgin had a double and a run scored.
Game two Saturday vs Ellsworth CC (IA)
Kish would continue to fight back from a 2-0 deficit after the first inning but their late inning rally fell just short at the Kougars lost to Ellsworth CC Panthers 7-4. Kayla Tofari grounded into a fielder's choice, which helped Kishwaukee tie the game at two in the top of the fourth and Kaelyn Williams was struck by a pitch to tie the game again at 3-3 in the top of the fifth. Ellsworth scored 3 in their sixth but the Kougs could only get one more run late game with runners on. Avery Boehne took the loss for Kishwaukee Kougars. The starting pitcher went six innings, giving up eight runs (five earned) on eight hits, striking out six and walking one. Georgia Gallardo led the Kougars with two hits in four at bats. Paezleigh Hudgin and Tofari each drove in one run while Allison Abell had three runs scored and Makenzie Mann had a hit and run scored.
Game three Sunday vs SUNY-Adirondack
Kishwaukee scored five runs in the top of the first inning and eight more in the fourth inning against SUNY-Adirondack on the way to what would be a busy scoring day 23-0 in five innings. Madison Hallaron drove in five runs on two hits, to lead the Kougars, including a triple in the fourth scoring three, she also singled in the first scoring one, and walked in the fifth scoring one run. Kaelyn Williams struck out 12 batters in the game as the starting pitcher gave up zero hits and zero runs over five innings while walking four. Kish got on the board in the top of the first inning after Sami Simms tripled, scoring one run, Lilli Delhotal doubled, scoring one run, Hallaron singled, driving in one run, and Georgia Gallardo tripled, plating two runs. The Kougs scored eight runs in the fourth inning as Simms again tripled, scoring one run, Williams kept the line going with an RBI single, Hallaron tripled with 3 of her RBI then Gallardo had an RBi single. Two more runs scored on an error and wild pitch to close out the inning. Kishwaukee scored 10 more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Delhotal drew an RBI walk, Allison Abell and Hallaron both followed with their own bases loaded RBI walk. Gallardo singled in a run then after an error plated a run, Lillie Gebel had a RBI single, then Williams doubled, scoring three runs.
Gallardo (4 RBI) and Simms (2 RBI) each collected three hits for the Kougars. Hallaron (5 RBI), Delhotal and Williams (4 RBI) each collected two hits while Makenzie Mann scored a run. Tyra Smith scored three runs, Lillie Gebel had two runs scored and an RBI plus teammates Kayla Tofari had a run scored and an RBI and Brooke Jackson added a run scored for Kish.
Game four Sunday vs SUNY-Erie CC
Kishwaukee couldn't keep up with Erie CC tomato up the day in Florida as they fell 9-1 on Sunday. Erie jumped out to the lead in the top of the first inning scoring two runs then added one run in the third to get a quick 4-0 lead that the Kougs couldn't catch up to. Allie Abell took the loss for Kish. The righty went three and two-thirds innings, giving up five runs (two earned) on six hits, striking out one and walking none. Avery Boehne also pitched 3 1/3 innings allowing four earned runs and striking out three. Kaelyn Williams had the lone RBI for the Kougars and Sami Simms had two hits in three at bats while Brooke Jackson and Lilli Delhotal had the other hits for Kish.
Kishwaukee will play two more games, starting with a contest versus Central CC (NE) and then Iowa Central College, on Monday and wrap up the trip with a game against Rochester Community and Technical College (NY) on Wednesday.