Softball | 3/4/2012 6:32:00 PM
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McPherson, Kan. - The McPherson softball team traveled to Wichita, KS for the Friends University Tournament on March 3rd and 4th. The Lady Bulldogs went 0-4 in their four games this weekend: 4-5, 5-13, 3-11, 2-11.
Game One: McPherson 4 - Graceland 5
Box Score
In their closest contest of the tournament, McPherson was defeated by the Jackets of GU on a seventh inning single, scoring the game-winning run for the home team. Allison Love (Tulsa, Okla.) pitched the complete game (CG), giving up five runs off of 11 hits. She recorded three strikeouts, nine groundouts and three fly outs. This was the third CG for Al. Love this season with her most recent one coming against Lubbock Christian University at the University of Science and Arts Tournament on Feb. 25th.
Katie Logan (Clay Center, Kan.) was on fire in the opening game, going 3-of-4 with two doubles and a homerun in the top of the sixth. Also grabbing three hits was pitcher Al. Love who had all singles and one RBI. Taylor Medler (Collinsville, Texas) (2), Amanda Baxter (Pueblo, Colo.) (1) and Kelly Custer (Elkhart, Kan.) (1) each contributed to the 10 hits of McPherson.
The Jackets made it to the plate three more times than MC but only had one more hit. Staci Ritchey was GU’s leader with three hits in four at bats including a double. Three of Graceland’s players logged two hits in the game including Sydney Smith whose second hit of the day knocked in Megan Nelson for the game’s winning run.
Christina Bradley pitched a complete game for GU, giving up three earned runs on McPherson’s 10 hits. She struck out six and walked three in her seven innings pitched.
Game Two: McPherson 5 - Morning side 13
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In their second game of the day, MC drew the 7:30 p.m. (CT) time slot and went up against Morningside of Iowa. Brittany Cole (Belton, Mo.) charted the loss as well as the starting pitching duties for their evening game, surrendering eight runs and striking out only one of her 28 batters faced. She was replaced by Kaci Nichols (Wilson, Kan.) in the fifth inning, who finished the game allowing four hits and five runs, including a grand-slam in the fifth inning.
After getting down eight by the fifth inning, McPherson found their scoring stride with a five-run explosion in the bottom of the inning. Sadie Green (Hutchinson, Kan.) led the Bulldogs with two hits while five other MC players had one.
Only one pitcher was needed by the Mustangs to defeat McPherson, Jordan Johnson. She recorded seven strikeouts and only two walks in the 29 batters she faced.
After a four-run first inning, the Mustangs scored four more runs in the middle innings and five in the sixth. Johnson, the Morningside pitcher, was the team’s leading RBI getter with four on her fifth inning grand-slam. Kati Steffen charted two RBIs off of her three hits.
Game Three: McPherson3 - Northwestern Oklahoma State 11
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Nichols got the starting role for MC in the game against NWOSU and lasted two and a third innings after allowing nine hits and eight runs, seven earned. Cole came in relief of Nichols this time, finishing the third inning and the rest of the contest. She gave up three runs on just six hits in the three and a third innings.
In their first Sunday game, McPherson had a hard time getting a bat on the ball, only recording six hits, Green led the team with two; Logan, Ariel McGee (Denver, Colo.), Ashley Love (Tulsa, Okla.), and Baxter had the remaining four.
Jasmine Braxton was the lone pitcher for NWOSU and recorded four strikeouts, five groundouts and one fly out in the six-inning contest.
The Rangers of Northwestern Oklahoma State got off to a great start, hitting in four runs in the first and then four more again in the third. Two NWOSU players had three hits, Alyssa Taylor and pitcher Braxton; Taylor led her team in RBIs with two.
Game Four: McPherson 2-Saint Gregory’s 11
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Al. Love went back out to the mound to start the final game of the Friends Tournament. She went four and two-thirds before being replaced by Nichols. Al. Love surrendered eight runs on seven hits including four homeruns. Nichols finished out the game for the Bulldogs, allowing four hits and three runs, with only one being earned.
For the second straight game, the bats did not show up for McPherson, only putting the ball into play twice. As. Love and Medler were the two Bulldogs with hits; Medler had an RBI with her one knock of the ball.
Saint Gregory’s Devon Frazier was the starting pitcher for the Cavaliers and lasted the whole game, giving up two runs and recording six strikeouts.
SGU had three athletes with two hits and five more with a hit apiece for their total of 11. Emily Ledinski had four RBIs coming from her two homeruns.
McPherson softball returns to their home field on Wednesday, March 7 at 5:30 p.m. for a double-header battle against fellow college of McPherson, Kansas, Central Christian.
