Softball Upends Friends in Extras, Falls to Ottawa in KCAC Tournament

GREAT BEND, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College softball team staved off elimination at Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Softball Tournament with a 2-1, 8-inning win over No. 3-seed Friends University Friday afternoon but could not keep the momentum going, falling to top-seeded Ottawa University, 8-2, in an elimination game later in the day at the Great Bend Sports Complex. The Bulldogs conclude their season at 26-25 overall.

(7) McPherson 2, (3) Friends 1 (8 innings)
The first game of the day ended up being a pitcher's duel between McPherson's Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS) and Friends' Heather Breslin.

The Falcons (33-13) got on the board first as Isabella Gonzalez led off the game with a single to short, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on Laykyn Lindsay RBI double to center. Lindsay moved to third on a passed ball, but was stranded there as Betker got a pair of strikeouts to get out the inning without further damage.

The Bulldogs had a pair of runners on in the bottom half of the inning courtesy of a Chelsea Conrad (Ione, Calif., Argonaut HS) double and a Kortney Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) walk but could not push a run across.

McPherson had another opportunity in the fourth inning after Judith Salazar (Santa Maria, Calif., Allen Hancock College) doubled to lead off the inning. Pinch runner Linsey Kramer (Junction City, Kan., Junction City HS) came on and moved to third on an Ali Smith (Lodi, Calif., Lodi HS) sacrifice bunt but was left on base when Katie Holmes (Harrah, Okla., Cowley County CC) popped out behind home plate to end the inning.

Breslin retired the Bulldogs in order in the fifth and sixth innings, but could not keep McPherson at bay in the seventh. Smith drew a one-out walk, then scored on an RBI double by Holmes to tie the game. The Bulldogs followed with a pair of pinch hitters. Katie Usdansky (Olathe, Kan., Olathe North HS) popped out and Brittany Childs (Junction City, Kan., Junction City HS) drew a walk before Jessica Knoeber (Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity Catholic HS) grounded out to end the inning.

Betker struck out Moriah Kayhill to start the eighth inning, but allowed a single to Isabella Gonzalez. Lacey Hudson followed with a liner back to Betker in the circle, who fired to first to double off Gonzalez for the third out.

Jessica Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) led off the bottom of the eighth with an infield single. After a pair of fly-outs, Kortney Jones sent a 2-2 pitch to right-center field, allowing Jessie Jones to score the game-winning run all the way from first base.

Betker limited Friends to four hits - three off the bat of Gonzalez - and walked three while striking out five. Gonzalez also drew a walk, as did Lindsay, who had the final Falcon hit of the game.

Of the Bulldogs' five hits, three were doubles - one each from Conrad, Salazar and Holmes. Kortney Jones reached base safely twice -  on a walk in the first and her walk-off hit in the eighth.

Breslin allowed just five hits and three walks while striking out five in the contest, but took the complete-game loss.

(1) Ottawa 8, (7) McPherson 2
Ottawa (36-16) jumped out to an early lead, knocking McPherson starter Sydney Lang (Topeka, Kan., Shawnee Heights HS) for five runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks in 1 2/3 innings.

The Braves scored three runs in the first inning on a bases-clearing double down the right-field line, then added two more in the second on an Ellena Cott-Laurie sacrifice fly and an Alexa Romero RBI single to shallow right.

After two scoreless innings, Ottawa added another run in the fifth and two more in the seventh.

In what ended up being their final collegiate at-bats, Holmes and Azaria Romero (McPherson, Kan., Kansas Wesleyan University) rapped singles after Smith reached on a walk to open the bottom of the seventh inning. Smith scored on Holmes' base knock, while Jordynn Corea (Amarillo, Texas, Tascosa HS) - pinch-running for Holmes - scored when Jessica Knoeber (Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity Catholic HS) reached on an error. A Jessie Jones pop-out ended the game one batter later.

Molli Morgan started for Ottawa, throwing three scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and one walk. She struck out a pair before being replaced by Jordyn Sage in the fourth. Sage, who got the win, allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk.

Lang took the loss, striking out one, before being replaced by Kylee Martin (Colby, Kan., Goodland HS). Martin pitched the final 5 1/3 innings for McPherson, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out three.

Kori Lacey had three hits, including a double, for Ottawa, while Aryn Smith had two doubles and drove in three.

Holmes and Romero had two hits each in their final game, accounting for four of the Bulldogs' six hits. Conrad and Kortney Jones added singles.

Closing at 26-25 overall, McPherson set a school record for wins in a season and finished with a winning record for just the third time in program history and the first time since 2004.