McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College softball team extended its winning streak to six games and got back to .500 overall with a doubleheader sweep of Mid-America Christian University Friday night at Wall Park. The Bulldogs (12-12) took game one, 1-0, then came back to win game two, 6-5, in nine innings.
McPherson 1, Mid-America Christian 0
Game one was a pitcher's duel between McPherson's
Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS) and MACU's Morgan Wardlow as the teams combined for just one run on six hits, a walk and a hit batter.
McPherson had its first significant scoring opportunity in the fifth inning when
Jessica Knoeber (Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity Catholic HS) reached on an error to lead off the inning. She moved to second on an
Erica Almaraz (San Bernandino, Calif., Aquinas HS) one-out single, then the pair advanced 60 feet on a groundout by
Chelsea Conrad (Ione, Calif., Argonaut HS). The rally was cut short, though, as
Jessica Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) grounded out to end the inning.
After retiring the Evangels in order in the sixth, the Bulldogs struck for the game's only run when pinch-runner
Linsey Kramer (Junction City, Kan., Junction City HS) scored on a
Kortney Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) double to right-center. Kramer was running for Judith Salazar, who had reached with a one-out single to left.
MACU mounted a small rally in the top of seventh as Tiphani Napier reached on a walk to lead off the inning. After Kortney Jones corralled a popup in foul territory, Katie Gracey reached on a misplayed grounder by
Amanda Connell (Wichita, Kan., Circle HS). Connell redeemed herself one batter later, though, catching a line drive off the bat of Brittany Ward to start a game-ending 6-4 double play.
When it was all said and done, though, Betker emerged with a two-hit shutout victory behind seven strikeouts and a walk.
Kortney Jones led the Bulldogs offensively with an RBI double, while Salazar, Almaraz and
Ali Smith (Lodi, Calif., Lodi HS) each had a single.
Wardlow allowed just one run on four hits and a hit batter while striking out one. Kortney Brown and Ward each had a single to account for MACU's two hits.
McPherson 6, Mid-America Christian 5 (9 inn.)
The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead with three runs on five hits and an error in the bottom of the first inning. McPherson's first four batters reached safely with Jessica Jones scoring on a Salazar single to center. Conrad came across on a Smith groundout and Salazar provided the final run when she scored on a
Jessica Knoeber (Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity Catholic HS) infield single.
The Evangels had runners in scoring position in each of the next three inning, stranding two each in the second and third innings and one in the fourth, before breaking through for two runs each in the fifth and sixth innings. A Gracey RBI single to center scored Napier to put MACU up 4-3 with two on and two out in the sixth, spelling the end of the day for McPherson starter
Sydney Lang (Topeka, Kan., Shawnee Heights HS).
Betker entered from the bullpen and promptly walked the first batter she faced to reload the bases. She quickly settled down and struck out Jessica Johnson looking to get out of the inning without further damage.
MACU starter Courtney Anderson would not make it out of the sixth, either, yielding to game one starter Wardlow after an error and a walk put runners on first and second with just one out. Wardlow followed with a strikeout and a groundout to end the McPherson rally.
Betker retired the Evangels in order in the seventh, opening the door for the Bulldogs. Jessica Jones singled through the hole at short to lead off the inning, then moved to second when Salazar reached on an error two batters later. After a Kortney Jones fly out to left, Smith singled up the middle to score Jessica Jones to tie the game. Kramer, running for Salazar, was thrown out on the same sequence to end the inning after getting hung up between second and third.
Each team scored a run in the eighth inning with Smith scoring on an
Azaria Romero (McPherson, Kan., Kansas Wesleyan University) infield single for McPherson. A fielder's choice and a groundout ended the Bulldog threat.
In the top of the ninth, the Evangels stranded a pair of runners in scoring position, again opening the door for the Bulldogs.
With Connell on second base to begin the McPherson half of the ninth, Jessica Jones drew an intentional walk. A Conrad single to shallow left loaded the base for Salazar, who hit a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Connell for the winning run.
Betker picked up the win in relief, scattering two hits and a walk while striking out three in 3 1/3 innings. Lang threw 5 2/3 innings, but did not figure in the decision after allowing four runs (just one earned) on seven hits and six walks.
Jessica Jones had two hits, a walk and two runs scored, while Salazar added two hits, two RBIs and a run scored. Romero and Conrad also had two hits apiece.
Wardlow took the loss, allowing three runs - just one unearned charged to her - on four hits and a walk in three innings. Anderson gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings.
Hanna Harris reached base five times for the Evangels on three hits and two walks. Gracey was the only other MACU player with multiple hits, while Brittany Ward also drew a pair of walks.
"Tonight's wins were team wins," said head coach
Ashley Spencer. "We made great plays on defense, which helped ignite our offense. Christie and Sydney pitched well to help keep the games close."
The Bulldogs close out an eight-game homestand Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Haskell Indian Nations University (0-10). McPherson kicks off Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) play at 2 p.m. Wednesday against Friends University in Wichita. The games will be McPherson's first true road games this season.
