Softball | 3/23/2014 4:03:00 PM
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Sterling, Kan. – MC softball's final tournament of the regular season took place this past weekend as the Lady 'Dogs traveled to Sterling, Kansas for four games; Mac split, putting them at 5-10 heading into KCAC play.
Game 1 – vs. Briar Cliff Univ. – W 12-1 (5 innings)
The Lady Bulldogs had a great start to the tournament as they posted 12 runs in just a three-inning span, winning 12-1 in five.
A whopping 15 hits were logged by MC in their four innings behind the plate; Amanda Darrow (Jasper, Mo.) and McKenna Deckard (Hutchinson, Kan.) each tabbed three while three others had two and three more recorded one hit. Deckard led the team in Runs Batted In with four. Ariel McGee (Denver, Colo.) tallied just one hit but made the most of hit as she put it over the fence for a two-run homerun, her second of the season.
Freshman pitcher Ciara Archer (Denver, Colo.) went the complete five-innings, allowing one earned run on three hits; she struck out two of the 16 batters she faced.
Game 2 – vs. Concordia University – L 10-7
Things were looking good for the Lady 'Dogs five innings into the contest against Concordia as they led 6-1 heading into the sixth. Unfortunately for Mac, they surrendered nine runs to CU and then were only able to get one back, losing 10-7.
McPherson continued to hit the ball well, posting 11 knocks of the ball; they also got on five times on walks. McGee, Darrow and Emily Davis (McPherson, Kan.) all three got aboard three times; both McGee and Davis had two hits and a walk while Darrow logged one hit and two bases on balls. McGee recorded a double, triple and two stolen bases for MC.
Archer remained at the mound for the Dirt 'Dogs and went five and two-thirds before being relieved; she gave up eight earned runs on 12 hits to the 29 Bulldogs she came up against. Jenna Kaiser (Billings, Mont.) finished the outing for Mac, throwing 32 pitches; she surrendered two runs and six hits.
Game 3 – vs. Huston-Tillotson College – L 8-2
It was a rough one for the Bulldogs on Saturday morning as they struggled scoring and couldn't keep the Rams off the board; by the time McPherson got runs, in the sixth inning, the game had been decided as HTC was up 6-2 and then added two more for good measure in the final inning, claiming the 8-2 win.
Wedel, McGee, and Davis each logged two hits to lead the team while three others recorded one. Whitney Miller (Valley Center, Kan.) and Cassandra Mereno (Wichita, Kan.) were the two that logged RBIs; Miller knocked in Davis while Mereno's double brought around Miller.
For the third straight game, Archer was the starting pitcher for McPherson; she went for six and two-thirds innings, allowing 11 hits and eight runs, four of which were earned. Mallory Fowler (Wichita, Kan.) recorded the final out for MC, striking out the lone batter she faced.
Game 4 – vs. Dakota State University – W 10-9
McPherson was in a fight for the final game of the tournament. The 'Dogs got out to a 3-0 lead in their half of the first inning but then DSU put up six in their half to take the lead 6-3. MC scored one in the second and then six of their own in the fourth to jump back in front 10-6; the Trojans put one up in the fourth and then two in the eighth but fell just short, giving Mac the 10-9 triumph.
10 runs were scored on 10 hits and three walks for the 'Dogs. Miller came in to play center field and logged three hits in her four at bats; Kaiser was second on the list with her two knocks of the ball and also got on once via a walk. Darrow recorded a two-run homerun for her lone hit; she also got aboard once on a base on balls.
Kaiser was the first MC player to start at the mound but didn't last long; after allowing six runs in the opening inning, she was pulled for Archer who went the rest of the way. Archer threw to 26 batters and recorded three runs given up on eight hits and three walks.
It's off to Winfield, Kansas for their first KCAC games of the year for McPherson as they square off with the Southwestern College Moundbuilders on March 25th; start time for the doubleheader is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. (CT)
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