McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College softball team was limited to eight hits while conceding 28 as Kansas Wesleyan University swept a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) doubleheader Thursday night at Wall Park.
Game 1 -- Kansas Wesleyan 7, McPherson 0
Jessica Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) led off the bottom of the first inning with a single to shallow left field, but McPherson was held to just three more hits the rest of the way by Kansas Wesleyan pitcher Jordyn Parsons. Parsons struck out seven and walked just one while scattering four hits to get the win.
After leaving the bases loaded without scoring a run in the second inning, KWU scored three runs on five hits in the third. The Coyotes led off the frame with four straight hits with Ashlee Gutierrez scored on an RBI single by Jordan Girard, Girard crossed on a Taylor Todd single and Todd scored on an Aymet Demara single.
Erica Almaraz (San Bernandino, Calif., Aquinas HS) drew a one-out walk in the third inning but the Bulldogs weren't able to make anything of it as Parsons got all three outs in the frame via strikeout.
Kansas Wesleyan extended the lead to 4-0 in the fifth when Autumn Gillespie scored on a dropped popup after leading off the inning with a double to deep center and advancing to third on a groundout.
McPherson attempted to mount a charge in the bottom of the fifth as
Katie Holmes (Harrah, Okla., Cowley County CC) hit a leadoff single to shallow left and
Jordynn Corea (Amarillo, Texas, Tascosa HS) followed with a one-out single to left. After a wild pitch advanced Holmes and Corea to second and third, respectively, the Bulldogs were run out of the inning when Almaraz dropped a ball down the third-base line. Pinch-runner
Azaria Romero (McPherson, Kan., Kansas Wesleyan University), running for Holmes, was tagged out on the play. Almaraz was then caught out after over-running first base for the third out of the inning.
The Coyotes added three more runs in the seventh inning with the big blow coming on a two-run single down the left-field line by Alyssa Waldron.
Todd, Gillespie and Demara had three hits apiece while Waldron had a game-high two RBIs.
Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS) took the complete-game loss for the Bulldogs, striking out six to surpass the 100-strikeout mark for the season.
Game 2 -- Kansas Wesleyan 8, McPherson 3
Kansas Wesleyan jumped out to a 5-0 lead off McPherson game two starter Sydney Lang with four runs in the first inning and one more in the second.
McPherson got on the board with two runs in the third inning. Almaraz and Romero reached on back-to-back walks to lead off the frame, then advanced on a Jessica Jones sacrifice bunt before scoring on a two-run single by
Judith Salazar (Santa Maria, Calif., Allen Hancock College). On the play, Salazar advanced to second on the throw and third on a wild throw from the outfield. She was then thrown out trying to steal home.
The Bulldogs added another run in the fourth as Holmes scored on an Almaraz RBI single to shallow center after knocking out a one-out double.
Kansas Wesleyan extended the lead with one run in the fifth and two in the sixth, while Parsons was able to keep the Bulldogs off the base-paths in three innings of relief of Coyote starter Kylie Ross.
KWU had 11 hits and drew four walks, while McPherson was limited to four hits and three walks.
Jordan Girard, Gutierrez, Gillespie and Demara each had two hits for the Coyotes, with Waldron driving in three.
Salazar had a hit and two RBIs, while
Ali Smith (Lodi, Calif., Lodi HS), Holmes and Almaraz accounted for the Bulldogs other hits.
Ross went four innings for the win for KWU, scattering three runs on four this while walking three and striking out three. Parsons picked up the save, throwing three scoreless innings while striking out four.
Lang took the loss in the circle for McPherson, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits and two walks while striking out six in 5 1/3 innings. Kylee Martin threw the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing one hit and walking two.
Up next for the Bulldogs (14-17, 0-5 KCAC) is a Saturday afternoon KCAC doubleheader at Bethel College. First pitch for game one is 1 p.m. in North Newton. McPherson returns to Wall Park on Sunday to face York College in another league twin bill. Additionally, McPherson and Saint Mary have settled on a date to resume the suspended second game of their doubleheader from Sunday, March 26. The scoreless game will be picked up in the top of the second inning at 5 p.m. Friday, April 21.
