Stephens College came up just short in a back-and-forth battle on Friday, falling 13–12 to Graceland University in eight innings on a walk-off single.

The Stars totaled 22 hits in the high-scoring contest, but Graceland used a late push to secure the win. The game was tied 12–12 in the bottom of the eighth before Graceland delivered a single to bring in the winning run.

Graceland opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI double, but Stephens answered in the second when Schmidt singled to the left side of the infield to tie the game at 1–1.

The Yellowjackets moved ahead 3–1 in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single down the left field line. Stephens responded again in the fourth, as Jacobs singled to center field to even the score at three.

Graceland regained the lead in the bottom half of the fourth with a sacrifice fly, making it 4–3. The Stars pushed back in front in the fifth when Rhorer singled to the left side to drive in a run and Vincent tripled down the right field line to give Stephens a 5–4 advantage.

Graceland answered with a big fifth inning, taking an 8–5 lead with the help of a bases-loaded walk and a three-run error.

Stephens responded with another rally in the sixth. Jacobs singled to score a run, Kendrick drove in another on a groundout, and Rhorer added a two-run single to put the Stars back in front 9–8.

Graceland tied the game late with a string of doubles in the seventh to force extra innings, and the Yellowjackets eventually ended the game with the walk-off hit in the eighth.

Bales led Stephens at the plate with a perfect 4-for-4 performance. Rhorer and Jacobs each drove in three runs, while Kendrick, Vincent, Schmidt, and Ebert all recorded multiple hits. The Stars also swiped five bases in the game.

Mitts started in the circle for Stephens, allowing four runs on six hits over four innings. Dennis took the loss in relief, pitching two innings.
 

Stephens College fell 9–3 to Briar Cliff on Friday after the Chargers used a strong middle innings push to pull away.

Briar Cliff got on the board first in the second inning when an error allowed a run to score. The Stars answered in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 2–1 lead after Abby Schmidt drove in a run on a groundout and another run came home following a Briar Cliff error.

Stephens added to its lead in the third when Elise Kendrick launched a solo home run to left field, putting the Stars ahead 3–1.

Briar Cliff responded in the fourth inning, scoring three runs to take a 4–3 lead. A two-run double highlighted the rally before another run crossed on an error.

The Chargers continued to build their lead the rest of the way to secure the win.

Skylar Jacobs led Stephens at the plate with two hits from the leadoff spot. Kendrick, Morgan Ulrich, and Schmidt each recorded an RBI for the Stars. Stephens also created pressure on the bases, finishing the game with four stolen bases.

Schmidt started in the circle for the Stars, pitching 4.2 innings with three strikeouts.