WICHITA, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College softball team opened its 2017 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) slate with a pair of losses to (RV) Friends University Tuesday afternoon at the Two Rivers Youth Complex. The Falcons (19-5, 2-0 KCAC) took game one, 4-0, and game two, 9-1, in five innings.
The losses snapped a school-record eight-game winning streak for the Bulldogs (14-14, 0-2 KCAC).
Friends 4, McPherson 0
Game one started out as a pitcher's duel between Friends' Heather Breslin and McPherson's
Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS).
The Falcons threatened with a pair of runners in the second inning after runners reached on a walk and a fielding error, but Betker followed with three strikeouts to get out of the inning. Lacey Hudson finally broke up Betker's bid at a no-hitter with a one-out single to deep left-center in the fourth inning.
Friends broke the game open with four runs in the fifth inning. Moriah Kayhill reached with a lead-off bunt single, then scored on an RBI double to left-center by Laykyn Lindsay. Lindsey moved to third on the same play as the ball was bobbled at the fence, then scored on a squeeze play when Kennedy Brunson dropped a bunt down the third-base line. Hudson followed with a two-run double to extend the Falcon advantage to 4-0.
Erica Almaraz (San Bernandino, Calif., Aquinas HS) led off the top of the sixth with a double to left-center, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt but ended up stranded there after a bunt pop-out and a fly-out.
Betker allowed a couple of hits in the bottom half of the frame, but was able to keep the Falcons from adding to their run total.
In the top of the seventh,
Judith Salazar (Santa Maria, Calif., Allen Hancock College) opened the inning with a single to shallow center. After a pop-out to first base,
Ali Smith (Lodi, Calif., Lodi HS) grounded into game-ending double play.
Breslin threw a complete-game three-hitter on just 52 pitches to get the win. She did not strike any batters out, nor did she walk a batter.
Hudson had two hits and two RBIs and also drew a walk. Lindsay and Brunson each had a hit, an RBI and a run scored.
Betker took the loss after giving up four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out eight. McPherson was limited to just three hits -- a double by Almaraz and singles by Salazar and
Jessica Knoeber (Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity Catholic HS).
Friends 9, McPherson 1 (5 innings)
Friends grabbed the early 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning as Brunson doubled down the left-field line, then scored on a Sara Gonzalez to left.
The Bulldogs responded in the next half inning as
Kortney Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) hit a solo shot to center field to lead off the inning. McPherson was only able to manage two other base-runners the rest of the game -- another single by Jones in the fourth and a single by Smith to lead off the fifth.
The Falcons added to their lead with two runs in the second and third innings and three in the fourth to take an 8-1 lead into the fifth inning. In the bottom of the frame, Isabella Gonzalez reached on a error, advanced to second on a bunt single and then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. After a pop-up by Vanessa Oakden was caught by a diving
Jordynn Corea (Amarillo, Texas, Tascosa HS) at shortstop, Corea mishandled a grounder off the bat of Hudson that allowed Gonzalez to score the winning run.
Friends accumulated 11 hits, including five doubles and a triple. Lindsay, Hudson and Gonzalez each had two hits and two RBIs, while Hudson and Bruns scored a pair of runs. Hudson and Gonzalez also drew a walk apiece.
Maci Walker picked up the win in the circle for the Falcons, allowing one run on three hits while striking out two in five innings. McPherson starter
Sydney Lang (Topeka, Kan., Shawnee Heights HS) took the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits and a walk in two innings.
Katie Usdansky (Olathe, Kan., Olathe North HS) pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits and a pair of walks.
"When you play a team like Friends, you have to play well all around," said head coach
Ashley Spencer. "Today, we lacked our offensive side, which is something that has been strong for us as of late. We will be working in order to improve our hitting for Saturday."
After taking to the road for the first time in two-and-a-half weeks, the Bulldogs return to Wall Park for another six-game home stand beginning Saturday against University of Saint Mary. First pitch against the Spires (8-18-1, 1-1 KCAC) is 1 p.m. McPherson follows with home doubleheaders against York (March 28) and Kansas Wesleyan (April 1).
