Softball | 3/19/2013 11:36:00 PM
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
McPherson, Kan. – It was a cold one for the Tigers and Bulldogs on Tuesday as the cross town rivals squared off at Wall Park for a softball doubleheader. Game one went to extra innings while the second was cut short due to a run-rule; in both cases, McPherson came out victorious, winning 5-4 and 8-0.
Game 1 – vs. Central Christian – W 5-4
The first game of the doubleheader was one of missed opportunities by McPherson as they tallied 14 runners left of base. The contest opened up slow as each team went through the first three innings without recording a run; Mac tabulated four hits and left six runners stranded during that span.
In the bottom of the fourth, runs finally started coming in for the ‘Dogs.
Micaela Ensz (Inman, Kan.), pinch hitting for pitcher
Kaci Nichols (Wilson, Kan.), stole home as the CCC Tigers attempted to throw out
Ariel McGee (Denver, Colo.); McGee continued to steal her way around the infield and ultimately scored on a wild throw, bringing the score to 2-0 after four.
Central put four hits together in the top of the following inning to jump out in front 3-2. After leaving two on the bags in the bottom of the fifth, MC’s McGee homered to tie things up after six. Both teams went scoreless in the seventh, forcing extra innings.
In NAIA softball, during each extra inning of play, the team up to bat is given a runner on second base to start the inning; this is known as the international tie breaker rule. CCC used this to their advantage as they scored their extra runner to go ahead 4-3 with just one out but a double play by the Lady Bulldogs ended Central’s chance of adding any more.
McPherson saw their first two batters pop out to the infield and was down to their final out.
Whitney Miller (Valley Center, Kan.) singled to extend the ‘Dogs’ inning and following two walks,
McKenna Deckard (Hutchinson, Kan.) crossed the plate to tie things up at 4-4.
Ashley Love (Tulsa, Okla.) was next up and got hit by a pitch, bringing in Miller for the 5-4 game-winning run.
A total of eight hits were tallied by MC in their victory; Miller led the way with three and had two stolen bases too. McGee totaled two hits and a walk in her four at bats and also logged a team-high three stolen bases. Three other Mac players recorded one hit.
The Lady Tigers outdid McPherson in hits by one, grabbing nine in their loss. Brooklynn Lemons led things off for CCC and also totaled a team-high three hits. Two others had two hits while two more totaled one.
Nichols started things on the mound for the Lady Bulldogs and pitched four and two thirds innings, surrendering two earned and one unearned runs; she also logged four strikeouts in the 23 batters she faced.
Jenna Kaiser (Billings, Mont.) relieved Nichols in the fifth and closed out the contest; she struck out two while allowing three hits and one earned run.
Game 2 – vs. Central Christian – W 8-0
The second competition went much smoother for McPherson as they were able to close this one out in under six innings. McGee got the scoring started as she crossed home on a stolen base in the first inning. In the bottom of two, Miller doubled in
Suzi Hamilton (Raytown, Mo.) and McGee. Miller made her way home after the next batter, Kaiser, punched one in to right field to bring the score to 4-0 MC.
One inning later Mac saw themselves up 5-0 as As. Love, following her double, scored on an error by CCC as they tried to put out Nichols. Kaiser homered in the fourth to help the ‘Dogs go up six. After failing to score in the fifth, MC brought in two in the sixth to end the game. Nichols singled in Miller and then Deckard brought around Kaiser on a fielder’s choice to give the Lady Bulldogs the 8-0 run-rule victory.
Three hits were tallied by Miller, As. Love and Kaiser; two of Miller’s went for extra bases. McGee got aboard once but made the most of it as she stole two bases. 12 total hits were accumulated by McPherson in their game two win.
Only three hits were logged by Central in their defeat; Jacquelyn Perez, Shawna Hash and Dana Dean each had one knock of the ball.
Allison Love (Tulsa, Okla.) got the complete game shutout victory for MC; she recorded seven strikeouts and only one walk in her six inning win.
The next contest for the 4-9 Lady Bulldogs is scheduled for March 26th as they start conference play; a trip to North Newton, Kansas is on the docket for Mac as they take on the Bethel College Threshers with game one of the double header starting at 5:00 p.m. (CT)
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