WICHITA, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College softball team went 1-2 on day two of the Friends University Invitational Saturday, topping MidAmerica Nazarene, 4-3, in eight innings before falling to Peru State and Hastings - both in five innings.
Sustained winds out of the south at over 30 miles per hour - gusting to over 40 - impacted all facets of the game on an otherwise gorgeous afternoon at the Twin Rivers Youth Complex
McPherson 4, MidAmerica Nazarene 3 (8 inn.)
McPherson dug itself in the opener against MidAmerica Nazarene, spotting the Pioneers a 3-0 lead through three innings, but the Bulldogs slowly clawed their way back into the game to force extra innings before prevailing in the eighth.
MNU tallied all three runs in the third inning as Emily Robinson hit a two-run double to right and Lydia Reyes launched a home run straight into the wind over the left-field fence.
After a scoreless fourth where McPherson stranded two, the Bulldogs got on the board in the fifth as
Chelsea Conrad (Ione, Calif., Argonaut HS) doubled down the left-field line to lead off the frame, then scored on an MNU fielding error.
McPherson added another run in the sixth keyed by a
Katie Holmes (Harrah, Okla., Cowley County CC) pinch-hit double to left.
Jordynn Corea (Amarillo, Texas, Tascosa HS) re-entered the game to run for Holmes, then scored on a single by
Erica Almaraz (San Bernandino, Calif., Aquinas HS).
MidAmerica Nazarene had a chance to add to its lead in the bottom of the sixth, but stranded runners at first and second. That left the Bulldogs the opening they needed as
Jasmine Curiel (Corona, Calif., Corona HS) reached on a walk to open the seventh, then scored on a
Kortney Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) double down the left-field line.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Pioneers led off with a walk against McPherson starter
Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS). The runner eventually stole second, but Betker struck out the next three batters to send the game to extra innings.
The Bulldogs started the eighth inning with Corea at second base due to the international tie-breaker. She was subsequenly sacrificed to third by Almaraz and scored on a sacrifice bunt fielder's choice by Conrad.
In the bottom of the eighth, MNU was successful in sacrificing their runner from second to third, but could not advance her any farther as Betker struck out the next two batters to end the game.
Betker picked up the win in the circle, scattering three runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out eight in a complete-game effort. Four MNU pitchers combined to allow four runs (two earned) on seven hits and four walks. Clarisa Cortez took the loss after throwing the final 1 2/3 innings and allowing just one run.
Kortney Jones was the only Bulldog with multiple hits. She also had an RBI. Almaraz and Conrad were also credited with RBIs.
Robinson had two hits and two RBIs to lead MidAmerica Nazarene.
Peru State 12, McPherson 4 (5 inn.)
Against Peru State, McPherson jumped out to an early lead when Curiel scored on a Kortney Jones single through the hole at second in the first inning.
The Bobcats responded with two runs in the bottom half of the opening frame. PSC had three hits and drew a pair of walks off McPherson starter
Sydney Lang (Topeka, Kan., Shawnee Heights HS). The damage could have been worse, but Lang was able to get out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam with a force out at home and a ground out to short.
The Bulldogs regained the lead with two runs in top of the second courtesy of a pair of Bobcat miscues in the field.
McPherson's lead would be short-lived, though, as Peru State responded with two runs in the bottom of the second. The Bobcats would add another run in the third before the Bulldogs could answer.
In the top of the fourth,
Jessica Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) hit a one-out triple to deep right, then scored on a double by Curiel to the same spot.
After getting out of the fourth unscathed, the Bulldogs stranded one in the top of the fifth.
Peru State broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth, scoring seven runs on five hits and five walks from three McPherson pitchers. The big hit was a 3-run home run off the bat of Alexis Paulo-Meyers.
Again, Kortney Jones was the only Bulldog with multiple hits, accounting for two of McPherson's six hits. She also had one of two RBIs. Curiel had the other to go with one hit and a pair of walks.
Lang took the loss, allowing eight runs on 11 hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings.
Kylee Martin (Colby, Kan., Goodland HS) and
Katie Usdansky (Olathe, Kan., Olathe North HS) also made appearances in the fifth inning.
Rachel Carlos had three hits, while Paulo-Meyers had two hits and three RBIs. Megan Hartman picked up the complete-game win for the Bobcats.
Hastings 13, McPherson 1 (5 inn.)
In the Bulldogs' tournament finale, they posted seven hits but were done in by five errors as Hastings in each inning to pick up the win. The Broncos scored five in both the second and fifth innings to put the game out of reach.
Hastings struck first, scoring in the top of the first as Lexie Linderman drove in Cara Williams with a single to center.
Jessica Jones led off the McPherson half of the first with a single to shallow left-center and moved to second on a Curiel sacrifice bunt before scoring on a single by Kortney Jones.
In the second, the Broncos scored five runs capped by a Linderman grand slam. Hastings added single runs in the third and fourth innings while starting pitcher Sarah Barger did a decent job of keeping McPherson off the base paths.
The Broncos added another five runs in the fifth on three hits and two Bulldog errors.
The Bulldogs did have runners on the corners with two out in the fourth and another two runners on in the fifth, but could not push another run across.
Linderman finished 2-for-4 with five RBIs and two runs scored. Kaitlynn Knott and Taylor Asche also had two RBIs. For McPherson, Kortney Jones had three hits and the lone Bulldog RBI.
Katie Holmes (Harrah, Okla., Cowley County CC) added two hits.
Barger went the distance for Hastings, scattering one run on seven hits and a walk while striking out three. McPherson starter Kylee Martin took the loss, allowing six runs in 1 2/3 innings.
Up Next
The Bulldogs play their next 10 games at home starting Tuesday evening with a doubleheader against crosstown rival Central Christian. McPherson then hosts its annual invitational tournament, playing Briar Cliff (Iowa), Hastings and Langston (Okla.) on Friday before facing Morningside (Iowa) in the team's lone game on Saturday.