McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College softball team recorded its second Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) doubleheader sweep in as many days Sunday, defeating York College, 3-2 and 12-9, at Wall Park.
Game 1 --- McPherson 3, York 2
Neither team was able to get anything together in the early portion of game one.
York finally broke through with a pair of runs on four hits in the top of the fourth as Molly Reyes rapped a two-out, two-run single to left with the bases loaded. Marciela Romero followed with a single to reload the bases, but Brittany Juarez lined out to
Kortney Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) to end the inning.
McPherson had an opportunity to cut into the lead in the fifth inning after a ground-rule double off the bat of Judith Salazar put runners on second and third with two outs, but York got out of the inning without harm when Kortney Jones popped out to first base.
After retiring the Panthers in order in the top of the sixth, the Bulldogs finally got on the board in the bottom half of the frame when
Azaria Romero (McPherson, Kan., Kansas Wesleyan University) sent an 0-2 pitch over the center-field fence for a solo home run.
York was set down in order in the seventh as well, leaving the door open for McPherson in its final at-bats.
Jessica Knoeber (Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity Catholic HS) popped out to short to open the inning, but
Chelsea Conrad (Ione, Calif., Argonaut HS) and
Jessica Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) followed with back-to-back singles to chase Panther starting pitcher Ciera Montalvo from the game. Salazar greeted reliever Alysia Rodriguez with a single up the middle that scored Conrad to tie the game. Jessie Jones ended up on third after the throw to the plate.
Four pitches later, Kortney Jones completed the McPherson comeback by hitting a grounder to short, allowing Jessie Jones to score from third for the game-winning run.
Jessie Jones and Salazar had three hits apiece to lead McPherson, while
Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS) picked up the complete-game win in the circle after allowing just two runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three.
Marciela Romero and Brittany Rayls both had two hits to lead York, while Reyes had drove in two.
Montalvo scattered three runs on nine hits while striking out three in 6 1/3 innings.
Game 2 --- McPherson 12, York 9
McPherson spotted York a 5-0 lead after 3 1/2 innings with the Panthers scoring one run in the second and four in the fourth.
The Bulldogs had their chances, leaving the bases loaded in the first and stranding one each in the second and third innings, before breaking out for seven runs on eight hits and an error in the bottom of the fourth inning.
McPherson sent 11 batters to the plate in the frame. Conrad had a two-run double, two more scored on a fielder's choice by Salazar, Jessie Jones and
Katie Holmes (Harrah, Okla., Cowley County CC) had RBI singles and Romero capped the inning with an RBI double.
York regained the lead with four runs in the sixth inning. Reyes scored on a Rayls sacrifice fly for the first run. Kiana Villarreal followed with a two-run double, then scored on a McPherson throwing error to take an 8-6 lead.
The Bulldogs rallied for five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Pinch-runner
Linsey Kramer (Junction City, Kan., Junction City HS) scored on a fielder's choice by Betker and Romero came across on a ground-rule double by
Amanda Connell (Wichita, Kan., Circle HS) to tie the game. Betker later scored on a Jessie Jones single and
Ali Smith (Lodi, Calif., Lodi HS) followed with a two-run single to score Connell and Jones.
The Panthers were unable to mount a charge in the seventh, popping out twice to Connell at shortstop before Betker struck out Reyes to end the game.
Each team used four pitchers in the contest.
Sydney Lang (Topeka, Kan., Shawnee Heights HS) got the start for McPherson, allowing five runs on eight hits before being pulled in the fourth.
Katie Usdansky (Olathe, Kan., Olathe North HS) and
Kylee Martin (Colby, Kan., Goodland HS) threw a total of 2 2/3 innings in relief before yielding to Betker, who picked up the win after allowing just one hit and striking out one in 1 1/3 innings.
Alyssa Ruiz took the loss for York.
The Bulldogs pounded out 18 hits with all but one player in the starting lineup getting a hit. Smith had two hits and three RBIs, while Jessie Jones, Romero and Connell finishing with three hits, an RBI and two runs scored.
"I am very proud of our all-around effort and energy," said head coach
Ashley Spencer. " We put hits together, we pitched well, and we played defense well."
"With the way the schedule is," Spencer added. "We have to find a way to play like this multiple times a week."
The Bulldogs (18-17, 4-5 KCAC), winners of four in a row, have a busy week ahead of them with road doubleheaders at Sterling College (15-21, 3-7 KCAC) on Tuesday and Ottawa University (17-15, 1-4 KCAC) on Thursday before returning to Wall Park to face Southwestern College (12-22, 3-7 KCAC) on Friday afternoon.
