Softball | 2/25/2012 4:20:00 PM
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Box Score 3
Chickasha, Okla. – The McPherson College Softball Team got their 2012 season underway on Friday, Feb. 24 in the USAO Tournament in Chickasha, Okla. The Lady Bulldogs played against two different opponents, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and NAIA seventh ranked Lubbock Christian University of Texas, in three games, losing 3-5, 0-11, and 1-10.
Game One: McPherson at University of Science and Arts
The first game of the year for MC came against the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and ended in a 3-5 defeat. The game started off with a bang as the leadoff hitter for the Bulldogs, Katie Logan, was hit by a pitch giving McPherson their first base runner in as many at bats of the season. Unfortunately, Logan got caught stealing being thrown out by the catcher. MC’s three runs came in the seventh inning on a series of errors by USAO; the Bulldogs left five runners on base for the game.
Allison Love recorded the loss for McPherson after giving up 11 hits on 27 at bats. She had one strikeout, seven ground outs and eight fly outs in her six innings pitched.
The Lady Bulldogs were only able to record two total hits with Kelly Custer and Ariel McGee each earning one.
USAO’s only pitcher of the game was Neesha Sorrell who gave up three runs, all unearned, and had 10 strikeouts in her 29 batters faced.
Right fielder, Markie Laferney led the Drovers with two runs while Skyler Nichols had the most hits (3) on the team. Taylor Smith added in two hits of her own as did Ashley Mitchell who also had two RBIs in her three at bats.
Game Two: Lubbock Christian vs. McPherson
McPherson played the No. 7 Lubbock Christian University Chaps in their second game of the day. LCU came into the contest with a record of 8-0 and after the game were still undefeated as they beat the Bulldogs 11-0. The Chaps came out swinging as they got up early scoring four runs on four hits in the opening inning; they were able to score in every inning besides the second of the matchup.
McPherson struggled from behind the plate again, putting the ball into play only three times in their 18 at bats; Katie Logan, Ariel McGee and Ashley Love each tallying one hit.
MC’s pitcher Brittany Cole had a difficult first outing of the year, giving up 10 runs on 10 hits in three and a third innings; Kaci Nichols came in to relieve Cole of her pitching duties in the fourth. Nichols finished the game for the Bulldogs and allowed one run on two hits and one strikeout.
The Chaps recorded 12 hits in the game by eight batters with Marisa Coats bringing in four runs on her two. LCU went to the plate 26 times in this five inning game, striking out only once.
Meagan Navarrette picked up the win as the pitcher of Lubbock Christian. She allowed three hits in her 18 batters faced, striking out eight.
Game Three: McPherson at University of Science and Arts
In their third and final game of the day, McPherson faced USAO for the second time in six hours, dropping this one 1-10. MC’s lone run came in the fifth inning on a single by Brittany Cole after a triple by Sadie Green led off the inning.
Cole and Green’s hits were the only two of the game for the Lady Bulldogs who, up until that point were 0-12 from the plate. Ashley Love, Amanda Baxter and Kelly Custer were each able to draw a walk but McPherson couldn’t turn them into runs.
Kaci Nichols got the starting nod for the second go-around with the Drovers, allowing nine hits and 10 runs, six of which were earned. She accumulated two strikeouts, three walks and one wild pitch in the 19 batters faced during her two innings. Allison Love took over for Nichols in the top of the third and gave up 3 hits but no runs in the final two innings of the game.
USAO scored their 10 runs evenly in the first two innings to take a commanding lead early. Kristin Moyers and Ashley Mitchell each brought in two runs on their two hits of the ball. Six Drovers recorded two hits to make up their total of 12.
Elizabeth Agpalo was the pitcher chosen by USAO to go up against McPherson and she charted eight strikeouts, three walks and one run on just two hits in the victory.
The Lady Bulldogs hit the field again Sunday for another two games, playing the teams they played Saturday one more time. The first contest is against Lubbock Christian at 11 a.m. followed by a 1 p.m. game against USAO.
