Allen Community College's softball found its hitting stroke early in a decisive win over Labette. But the bats fell silent in a 6-1 defeat in the second game of their Tuesday doubleheader.

A home split on the softball diamond leaves Allen Community College in line for a playoff berth.

The Red Devils thumped visiting Labette 7-3 in their doubleheader opener. But the Cardinals jumped ahead in Game 2 and didn?t look back in a 6-1 victory.

Allen, which stands at 9-9 in Jayhawk Conference play, remains in sixth place in conference standings, with the top eight teams moving on to next week?s Region VI Tournament in Topeka.

Things started well enough on Tuesday, with Allen erupting for six runs in the bottom of the second against Labette pitcher Jaelah McDannald.

Bailee Campbell got it started with an RBI single, but the big blow was Hayley Gerberding?s bases-loaded double, making it 4-0. Jena Hendrix added a run-scoring single and the final run of the inning came on Calyn Michaelis?s double-play ground ball.

A pair of Allen fielding errors allowed Labette to close the gap to 6-3 after 3� innings before the Red Devils? Camrynn Yardley took matters into her own hands to seal the win.

A dropped third strike with a runner on third in the second inning allowed Labette to jump ahead 1-0 in Game 2 before the Cardinals utilized a steal of home in the third to lead 2-0.

Labette took full control in the fourth after the first five batters reached base, bumping the lead to 5-0.

Campbell?s two-out double in the bottom of the fifth accounted for Allen?s only run.

?We hit well in the first game, but we didn?t make the adjustments we needed for Game 2,? Peters said.

McDannald limited Allen to three hits in the nightcap, Campbell?s double and singles from Brooklyn Goehring and Morgan Collins.

Collins allowed three hits over three innings with a pair of strikeouts. Yardley came on in relief and pitched the final four innings, scattering three hits and striking out three.

Article and Photo Credit: Richard Luken