McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College softball team kicked off an eight-game homestand with a doubleheader split with Northwestern College (Iowa) at Wall Park on Saturday, dropping the opener by a 4-3 score before rebounding with a 4-1 win in game two.
Game 1 --- Northwestern (Iowa) 4, McPherson 3
The Bulldogs struck first, tallying a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning as
Judith Salazar (Santa Maria, Calif., Allen Hancock College) drove in
Chelsea Conrad (Ione, Calif., Argonaut HS) with an RBI double to deep right, then scored on a
Jasmine Curiel (Corona, Calif., Corona HS) single down the right-field line. McPherson threatened for more, but
Erica Almaraz (San Bernandino, Calif., Aquinas HS) was sat down on strikes for the third out with a pair of runners in scoring position.
Northwestern responded for three runs in the top of the second as Katie Elliott drove in Monserrat Figueroa with an RBI single to shallow center and Amanda Everhart drove in a pair with a single to shallow left.
The hosts knotted the game in the bottom of the third as Conrad scored on an infield fielding error. As was the case in the opening frame, Almaraz was retired for the third out with runners on second and third.
Salazar blasted a one-out triple to deep left-center to give McPherson a chance in the bottom of the fifth, but she was stranded there after
Azaria Romero (McPherson, Kan., Kansas Wesleyan University) struck out and
Sydney Lang (Topeka, Kan., Shawnee Heights HS) grounded back to the pitcher to end the frame.
The Red Raiders jumped on the opportunity in the sixth as pinch-runner Payton Goettsch scored from first after the Bulldogs committed a pair of errors on a ball put in play by Elliott.
The Bulldogs were retired in order in the final two innings to end the game.
Kayla Tindall allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk while striking out six in a complete-game effort to get the win for Northwestern. Lang took the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk while striking out eight, also in a complete-game effort.
Elliott was the only Red Raider with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Everhart, who had the big hit in the second inning, finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Conrad and Salazar combined to account for four of McPherson's six hits. Both of Salazar's hits went for extra bases, while Conrad accounted for two of the Bulldogs' three runs.
Game 2 --- McPherson 4, Northwestern (Iowa) 1
McPherson scored two runs each in the third and fifth innings to provide more-than-enough offense for
Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS) in the circle as the Bulldogs took game two.
Northwestern challenged in each of the first three innings, stranding a total of four batters, but could not take advantage against Betker.
The Bulldogs left one runner on base in both the first and second innings, finally breaking through in the third.
Jessica Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) opened the inning with a bunt single, then moved to third on a Conrad sacrifice bunt and a fly-out to right by
Taylor Hires-Caulk (Fernley, Nev., Central Arizona College) before scoring on a Salazar double to right-center.
Katie Holmes (Harrah, Okla., Cowley County CC) followed with a single to shallow center to plate Salazar for the second run of the inning.
McPherson added a pair of runs in the fifth when Conrad and Holmes scored on a single to shallow right-center by
Kortney Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS).
Northwestern scratched out a run in the sixth when Jessica Rayela scored on an errant throw following a bunt single. The Red Raiders could get no more, however, as two runners were stranded in the frame.
Betker struck out 12 while scattering four hits and a walk in a complete-game effort to get the win for McPherson. She struck out two batters in each inning except the fifth. Romero had a pair of singles to finish as the only Bulldog with multiple hits. Salazar and Conrad each added a double.
Rayela had three hits, including a double, to lead the Red Raiders (4-4). Figueroa had Northwestern's other hit. Morgan Means took the loss in the circle, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out two.
The Bulldogs (2-5) return to Wall Park at 1 p.m. Sunday for a doubleheader against another Great Plains Athletic Conference member school, Hastings College.
