McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College softball tournament just wasn't McPherson's tournament as the Lady Bulldogs went 0-5, four of which were shortened due to a run-rule. The 'Dogs sit at 3-18 on the year.
Friday, Game 1 – 18-6 Benedictine
McPherson opened the tournament on Friday afternoon with a contest against the BC Ravens. Benedictine came to play and scored five runs in each of the first two innings. The Ravens added two in both the third and fourth to go up 14-0. MC livened up in the final two innings, scoring all six of their runs, but could not overcome the deficit, losing 18-6.
The 'Dogs got aboard 12 times with seven coming from hits. Emily Davis continued her impressive hitting as she went 3-for-3 with a double and also tallied an RBI; four other players logged a hit. Whitney Miller and Sydney Lipton each got on twice; Miller drew two walks while Lipton had a hit and a walk.
Just as they have all year, Mac used a pitching by committee approach with Mallory Fowler starting things off. The junior pitched for the first inning. Amanda Connell came in for the second, third, and fourth while Kaylee Lozier threw in the fifth.
Friday, Game 2 – 9-3 Hastings
In what turned out to be the closest game of the weekend for MC, the Bulldogs kept things tight through four innings; they headed into the fifth tied at 3-3. The Broncos scored three runs in both the fifth and sixth to take the game 9-3.
The 'Dogs again did a decent job of getting on base as they drew seven walks to go along with their nine hits. Mariah Wedel and Miller each got on three times in their four at-bats to lead the team.
Lozier pitched for the first five innings, allowing six earned runs on 14 hits. Connell closed out the final two innings.
Saturday, Game 1 – 12-3 Langston
Saturday's first contest started fine with MC staying on the heels of Langston through four innings but a two-run fifth and five-run sixth by the Lady Lions gave LU the six-inning, run-rule win.
Mac logged a combined eight hits from seven different players; Savannah Lewis was the lone 'Dog to record two.
Connell got the day-two start for MC. The freshman pitched four innings before being relieved by Lozier who finished out the contest.
Saturday, Game 2 – 13-1 AIB-College of Business
A very senior-heavy group of Eagles took advantage of some untimely McPherson errors in the quick five-inning game. AIB used two big innings, seven runs in the second and five in the fourth, to anchor a 13-1 victory over Mac.
The bats weren't working for McPherson in what should have been a winnable game. Five different players logged one hit; Davis had the teams only double.
Lozier pitched for the first one and two-thirds innings, allowing eight runs, two that were earned, before coming out in the second. Connell pitched the final three and a third innings.
Saturday, Game 3 – 11-1 Avila
A much improved Avila team finished out their perfect 5-0 tournament by scoring in each of the five innings en route to their 11-1 victory. Mac's lone run came in the third.
The sticks again weren't making contact as the 'Dogs tabbed just five hits. Davis recorded two for a team-high eight hits in 12 at-bats in the tournament. Wedel also got aboard twice in the game, once on a hit and another on a walk; she ended the weekend 6-of-13 and had a hit in each contest.
The complete pitching staff for McPherson threw in their final game of the day. Fowler got the start and then was relieved by Connell in the third. Lozier entered the game in the fifth to close out the day.
McPherson is set to get some much needed rest as they do not compete again for 10 days. Their next outing will be the KCAC opener as they travel to Salina, Kansas for a double-header with Kansas Wesleyan University on March 24th at 4:00 p.m. (CT)
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
