Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 FORT WORTH, Texas (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College softball team closed out its stay at the Cowtown Classic Saturday with a pair of games against regional heavyweights from the Great Plains Athletic Conference, falling to (RV) Doane, 7-2, and to No. 9 Morningside, 2-1, at Gateway Park.
(RV) Doane 7, McPherson 2
The first five Bulldogs reached base in the bottom of the first inning, allowing McPherson to grab a 2-0 lead.
Taylor Hires-Caulk (Fernley, Nev., Central Arizona College) scored when
Katie Holmes (Harrah, Okla., Cowley County CC) drew a bases-loaded walk. Valerie Romero followed with a single through the left side that scored Chelsea Conrad.
Doane halved the lead with a run in the fifth inning when Heather Ramirez slapped an RBI single through the left side to score Victoria Fernandez.
The Tigers went ahead with three runs in the sixth inning -- all charged to Bulldog starter
Sydney Lang (Topeka, Kan., Shawnee Heights HS) -- then added three more in the seventh off reliever
Jordynn Corea (Amarillo, Texas, Tascosa HS).
Jessica Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) had two of McPherson's six hits with a pair of singles. The other hits were singles by Hires-Caulk, Conrad,
Valerie Romero (Lakewood, Calif., West Hills CC) and
Jessica Knoeber (Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity Catholic HS).
Lang took the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four in 5 2/3 innings.
(9) Morningside 2, McPherson 1
McPherson took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, when Hires-Caulk reached on a fielder's choice, advanced on a single by
Judith Salazar (Santa Maria, Calif., Allen Hancock College) and scored on an RBI double by Knoeber.
Morningside tied the score in the bottom of the second when Emilee Dorpinghaus walked, stole second and came home after a pair of McPherson errors.
The score remained 1-1 until the bottom of the seventh inning when Dorpinghaus led off the inning with a triple and scored the winning run on a single by McKenzie Anderson.
The Bulldogs out-hit the Mustangs, 8-5, but were limited to just one hit after the third inning. Seven different players recorded hits for McPherson, led by Salazar with a pair of singles.
Rachel Henks picked up the pitching win in relief by allowing only one hit over the final 4.2 innings. Henks struck out six and walked one.
Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS) took the loss in the circle, allowing two runs on five hits while walking two and striking out five.
"We competed well today but came up short," said head coach Ashley Spencer. "We will be working on those adjustments in order to improve for next weekend's home games."
Regarding next weekend, McPherson's next two opponents also hail from the GPAC as Northwestern College (Iowa) and Hastings College will pay visits to Wall Park for doubleheaders. The Bulldogs (1-4) face the Red Raiders (1-3) Saturday and the Broncos (1-1) Sunday. First pitch for game one of both doubleheaders is slated for 1 p.m.
