HILLSBORO, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College softball team closed out its 2017 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) slate with a pair of losses Tuesday night at the hands of Tabor College at the Hillsboro Sports Complex.
The Bluejays (28-17, 13-7 KCAC), who combined for 30 hits in the twin bill, took game one, 12-2, in five innings. The hosts then topped the Bulldogs (25-23, 11-11 KCAC), 10-5, in game two.
Game 1 --- Tabor 12, McPherson 2 (5 inn.)
Judith Salazar (Santa Maria, Calif., Allen Hancock College) had two hits, including a two-run home run in the third inning, to lead McPherson in game one.
The Bulldogs were limited to just four hits by Tabor pitcher Madison Byrd, who finished with nine strikeouts.
The Bluejays plated four runs in the bottom of the second keyed by a Dani Calder two-run single, followed by a Brianna Quiroz RBI triple and an RBI single by Arizona Schraeder.
Chelsea Conrad (Ione, Calif., Argonaut HS) hit a two-out single in the third for McPherson, then came around to score as Salazar cut the lead in half with her two-run shot to left.
The momentum gained by the Salazar's big fly quickly stalled as Tabor added five more runs in the bottom half of the frame off Bulldog starter
Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS). She was lifted with two out in favor of
Kylee Martin (Colby, Kan., Goodland HS), who got out of the inning with a grounder back to the circle.
Martin allowed just a single in the fourth. In the fifth, however, the first two Bluejay batters reached to open the inning, then moved into scoring position courtesy of a sacrifice bunt before Kaylie Felix ended the game with a 3-run walkoff home run to center.
Betker took the loss, allowing nine runs on 12 hits while striking out three in 2 2/3 innings. Martin gave up the final three runs on three hits over two innings.
Jessica Knoeber (Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity Catholic HS) hit a double in the fifth to account for the final Bulldog hit.
Calder had three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored, while Quiroz, Felix, Byrd Kerrigan Travens and Brittany Vankonynenburg each had two hits.
Game 2 --- Tabor 10, McPherson 5
Tabor used a five-run second inning to grab a 6-0 lead and chase McPherson starter
Sydney Lang (Topeka, Kan., Shawnee Heights HS) from the game after just 1 2/3 innings.
The Bulldogs responded with a pair of runs in the third inning. Martin - who replaced Lang in the circle - reached on a bunt single to lead off the frame, then came around to score when Conrad hit her first career home run.
Ali Smith (Lodi, Calif., Lodi HS) added a solo shot one inning later to cut the deficit to 6-3.
McPherson made it a one-run game with two more runs in the fifth as
Jessica Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) scored on a
Kortney Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) RBI single and Smith drove in Salazar with an RBI single.
The Bluejays plated an insurance run in the fifth, then added three more in the sixth as Travens and Felix homered off Betker, who was making a relief appearance.
Smith and Kortney Jones each had two hits to lead McPherson.
Travens and Felix both had three hits for Tabor. Travens finished with four RBIs, while Felix had three. Schraeder and Kelsey Jones each had two hits.
Reliever Emily Ingalls grabbed the win after getting the Bluejays out of the fourth inning, while Madison Byrd allowed one hit and one walk in 2 1/3 innings to get the save.
Lang was hung with the loss after allowing six runs on nine hits in 1 2/3 innings. Martin pitched the middle 3 1/3 innings, allowing just one run on four hits before yielding to Betker in the sixth.
McPherson, which qualified for its first KCAC Tournament since 2014, closes out its regular-season schedule Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Central Christian College.
