BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College softball team dipped back under the .500 mark in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) play after dropping both halves of a league doubleheader Wednesday at Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
The Bulldogs (22-21, 8-9 KCAC) were shut out in game one, 3-0, then came out on the short end of a 5-4, 8-inning result in game two.
Game 1 --- Oklahoma Wesleyan 3, McPherson 0
Both teams were limited to just five hits apiece in the opener, but Oklahoma Wesleyan was were able to make the most of its opportunities.
After the Bulldogs stranded a runner in the top of the first inning, the Eagles grabbed a 2-0 lead on a 2-run home run by Kaylee Clinton.
Oklahoma Wesleyan got two hits in the fourth but ended up stranding both runners. The Eagles retired the Bulldogs in order in the fifth, then tacked on a run in the bottom half of the frame as Heather Jones scored on a Michaela Shouldis infield single.
The McPherson offense began to find its stride in the sixth inning as
Chelsea Conrad (Ione, Calif., Argonaut HS) beat out an infield single to second, but the Bulldogs were unable to push her across.
After hitting two singles earlier in the game,
Ali Smith (Lodi, Calif., Lodi HS) led off the seventh with a walk and moved to third on back-to-back singles by
Katie Holmes (Harrah, Okla., Cowley County CC) and
Azaria Romero (McPherson, Kan., Kansas Wesleyan University). The late rally would be stunted, however, as pinch-hitter
Katie Usdansky (Olathe, Kan., Olathe North HS) lined out sharply to first base. A diving Romero was unable to get back to first in time and was doubled off for the second out.
Jasmine Curiel (Corona, Calif., Corona HS) grounded out to the circle for the final out of the game.
Ashleigh Capps took the win in the circle for OKWU, scattering five hits and a walk while striking out two in a complete-game effort.
Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS) also threw a complete game for McPherson, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five.
Smith tallied a pair of hits and drew a walk to lead the Bulldogs offensively. Conrad, Holmes and Romero accounted for McPherson's other three hits. The Bulldogs left a total of six runners on base in the contest.
Clinton had two hits and two RBIs for the Eagles.
Game 2 --- Oklahoma Wesleyan 5, McPherson 4 (8 inn.)
McPherson struck first in game two, tallying a run in their opening at-bats.
Jessica Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) led off the game with an infield single, then moved to third on a Conrad bunt single and a Salazar sacrifice bunt before scoring on an RBI groundout by Smith.
Oklahoma Wesleyan drew even in the bottom of the first when Lindsay McKenna scored on a Kierra McFadden double. Both schools stranded a pair on the frame. The Eagles added two more runs in the second, taking advantage of a pair of errors.
The Bulldogs bounced back in the top of the third as two runs scored on a Smith RBI single down the right-field line that Michaela Shouldis overran.
OKWU grabbed a 4-3 lead in the fourth after Shouldis scored on a McKenna sacrifice fly.
McPherson pitcher
Sydney Lang (Topeka, Kan., Shawnee Heights HS) helped her own cause by driving in Smith with a sacrifice fly to knot the score at 4-4.
The Eagles stranded a pair in the bottom of the sixth but were not able push a run across, as was the case for the Bulldogs in the top of the seventh. In the bottom half of the frame, Jayci Wang hit a one-out single to center, then moved to second on a Shouldis groundout, but was stranded there as Brianna Miller grounded out to the circle to send the game to extra innings.
McPherson was unable to take advantage of the runner on second to start the eighth inning as the Bulldogs were retired in order.
Oklahoma Wesleyan opened the bottom of the eighth with a McKenna single to put runners on the corners. After McKenna took second base without a throw, Kaylee Clinton lofted a ball deep to center that was hauled in by Conrad. Miller scored easily on the play to end the game.
Jessie Jones had three of McPherson's seven hits, with Conrad, Salazar, Smith and Holmes each adding base hits. Smith also drove in a pair.
McFadden led OKWU with three hits, while McKenna had two hits, two RBIs and a run scored in game two.
Lang threw a complete game for McPherson, taking the loss after allowing four runs (two earned) on 11 hits and three walks. She struck out four to move her career strikeout total to 181, nine shy of tying the program record of 190 set by Katie Logan (2009-12).
"We played well overall," said head coach
Ashley Spencer. "But we had a few missed opportunities to score. Our pitchers both threw well today, but our offense must execute in order for us to win."
Up Next
The Bulldogs return home for three in a row, beginning 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening with a make-up game against University of Saint Mary (14-22, 7-5 KCAC). The game, which was suspended after one inning due to rain on March 26, will be picked up from the point of interruption.
That will be followed by a regularly-scheduled KCAC doubleheader against Bethany (19-26, 7-11 KCAC) at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Bethany contests are the final home games of the season and the team's three seniors -- Holmes, Romero and Jourden Masero -- will be recognized.
