Softball | 3/20/2010 12:00:00 AM
Sterling, Kan. – The McPherson College softball team scored eight runs in the sixth inning to erase a two-run deficit and rally for an 8-2 victory over York College on Friday afternoon in the first game for the Bulldogs in the Sterling College Tournament.
A pair of McPherson miscues, including a passed ball and a dropped fly, gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead after five innings of play. However, the Bulldogs rallied for eight runs on five hits in the sixth to secure the victory and snap a two game losing streak.
The rally allowed McPherson to improve to 5-5 on the season heading into game two of the Sterling College Tournament. Freshman right-hander Kelsey Dutton (4-2) earned the win. In 7.0 innings, Dutton allowed two runs (one earned) on only six hits, while striking out five and walking two. She held six of the nine York batters without a hit.
Elizabeth Eklund took the loss for York. Eklund pitched 0.1 innings and allowed six runs on three hits.
Offensively, junior Ashley Luthye finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while freshman Janie Gunther was 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. In the end, four Bulldogs finished with a hit, while seven scored at least one run.
York opened the scoring when leadoff hitter Alexis Paspalof singled to center and proceeded to steal second and third before scoring on a fielder’s choice.
Paspalof struck again in the third. She opened the inning with a one-out single and advanced to second on a single by Brenda Perry. Paspalof scored on the next pitch after Bulldog right fielder Kayla Larkin misplayed a fly ball. The run gave the Panther’s an early 2-0 lead.
Trailing 2-0, Larkin and Luthye delivered back-to-back singles to open the top of the sixth. Dutton helped her own cause two batters later with an infield single that scored Larkin from third, while advancing the Bulldog pinch runner Kelsey Martin to third. Dutton would steal second on the next pitch to put two runners in scoring position with just one out. A wild pitch scored Martin from third, tying the game at two.
York would proceed to walk the bases loaded. After walking in the go ahead run, Gunther took advantage of her opportunity, blasting a single up the middle that scored two. The Bulldogs would continue the rally before ending the inning with eight runs on five hits.
Dutton would shut down the Panthers the rest of the way to pick up the victory.
The Bulldogs will look to continue the positive momentum into game two of the tournament against Graceland University. The matchup will be the four time these two sides have met, and the third time in less than a week.
