Softball | 4/9/2010 12:00:00 AM
Hillsboro, Kan. – The McPherson College softball team’s seventh inning rally fell short, as the Bulldogs dropped game two, 5-4, against the Tabor College Blue Jays in Hillsboro Thursday night.
The Blue Jays led 5-2 after six innings of play before an error and two walks loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh. Tabor pitcher, Roxanne Rodriguez struck out the next Bulldog hitter, but allowed a Kelsey Gray pinch-hit single to score two and cut the deficit to one 5-4. Despite the momentum, McPherson failed to plate the tying run as Rodriguez retired the next hitter on strikes.
Sophomore right-hander Katie Logan (1-4) took the loss. In 6.0 innings of work, Logan allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits. She struggled slightly with her control, walking six batters to go along with four strikeouts.
Roxanne Rodriguez picked up her second straight win against McPherson. Rodriguez pitched 7.0 innings, while allowing four runs (three earned). The right-hander walked six and struck out 11.
Offensively for McPherson, freshman Kelsey Dutton, junior Kelsey Gray and senior Kristen Ozbun each produced one of MC’s three hits. Dutton was 1-for-3 and scored a pair of runs, while Ozbun was 1-for-3 and Gray finished the night 1-for-1 with two RBI.
For the second game in a row, MC jumped out to an early lead. The Bulldogs plated two in the first after a pair of bases loaded fielder’s choices plated Ozbun and Dutton who reached on a walk and single, respectively. Leading 2-0, the Bulldogs still had the bases loaded with two outs before a strikeout allowed Tabor to escape without further damage.
Logan cruised through the first four innings, but ran into some trouble in the bottom of the fifth. TC opened the inning with a pair of singles to give the Blue Jays runners on first and third with one out, with No. 5 hitter Taylor Funk up to bat. Funk took full advantage of the opportunity driving the first pitch down the left field line to score both runs, tying the game at 2-2.
After McPherson failed to match the Tabor rally, a leadoff walk, stolen base and another Blue Jay double gave Tabor its first lead of the night, 3-2, with no outs in the bottom of the sixth. A pair of MC, a Logan wild pitch followed by an error, extended the inning allowing TC to plate two more runs and take a 5-2 advantage into the final inning.
The Bulldogs scored two in the top of the inning, but failed to tie the game.
McPherson (0-2, 5-7-1) continues it run of six games in three days as they play host to Friends University tomorrow, April 9, at 5:00 p.m.
