FORT WORTH, Texas (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College softball team opened the 2018 slate by posting a 2-2 mark at the Cowtown Classic at Gateway Park. The Bulldogs defeated Briar Cliff University, 3-1, and the College of Saint Mary (Neb.), 6-2, before falling to top-ranked Oklahoma City University, 10-1, in six innings on Friday, the fell to RV Bellevue University, 9-0, in five innings on Saturday. A Saturday afternoon matchup with Our Lady of the Lake University was canceled due to inclement weather.
Friday, 9 a.m. --- McPherson 3, Briar Cliff 1
Kimberly Trice (Antioch, Calif., Tennessee State Uniersity) had a McPherson debut to remember as the Bulldogs topped Briar Cliff University, 3-1, in their season opener.
McPherson grabbed the early lead when Trice drove in
Chelsea Conrad (Ione, Calif., Argonaut HS) with an RBI single in the top of the first inning. Briar Cliff countered with a run in the bottom half of the inning as Isabella Gonzalez scored on a wild throw during a double steal attempt after reaching on a triple earlier in the frame.
The Bulldogs moved back in front in the second inning as Trice singled to left with the bases loaded to score
Jasmine Curiel (Corona, Calif., Corona HS) from third. Curiel had reached on a walk to open the frame. After a scoreless third inning, Trice launched a 3-0 pitch over the left-center field fence with one out in the top of the fourth to make it 3-1.
Trice finished with three hits, including a solo home run, and drove in all three McPherson runs. Conrad also finished with three hits, while
Jessica Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) and
Maile Deutsch (Palmer, Texas, Ennis HS) each had two.
Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS) kept the Chargers off the basepaths for the most part, striking out eight and scattering four hits in a complete game effort.
Friday, 3 p.m. --- McPherson 6, Saint Mary (Neb.) 2
Trice had two hits, including a double, and drove in three more runs in the Bulldogs' second game - a 6-2 victory over the College of Saint Mary (Neb.).
The Flames (0-2) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning as Taelar Solano drove in Cassie Dauber with an RBI single, then came around to score on an RBI single by Whitney Chamberlain.
The Bulldogs plated four runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning.
Amanda Connell (Wichita, Kan., Circle HS) and
Destiny Bacon (La Mesa, Calif., Grossmont HS) opened the frame with singles, then moved up 60 feet on a Jones sacrifice bunt. Connell came around to score when Conrad reached on an error. Trice followed with a two-run double to left, then scored on a single by Ali Smith.
McPherson added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Brittany Baroni (Galt, Calif., Consumes River College) got the start in the circle, scattering two runs on four hits with three strikeouts over three innings.
Sydney Lang (Topeka, Kan., Shawnee Heights HS) threw four scoreless innings of relief to get the win, allowing three hits and striking out one. Her fifth-inning punchout of Ashley Trendle was the 190th of Lang's career, tying her with Katie Logan (2009-12) for the top spot on McPherson's career strikeout list.
Jones, Trice and Connell each registered a pair of hits to lead the Bulldogs.
Friday, 8 p.m. --- #1 Oklahoma City 10, McPherson 1 (6 inn.)
Oklahoma City University pitcher Abby Meador struck out 12 while holding McPherson to just one hit - a Jessie Jones single in the second inning - and three walks as the top-ranked Stars posted the run-rule victory.
OCU scored one in the first inning then added three each in the third, fifth and sixth innings. McPherson was not without its chances, however. After striking out the first two batters in the bottom of the first, Meador had trouble getting the third out, issuing free passes to Trice and
Taylor Hires-Caulk (Fernley, Nev., Central Arizona College) with a Deutsch hit-by-pitch sandwiched in-between to load the bases. Jaden Shores was called in from first base to relieve Meador and - after a protracted at-bat - caught
Jenna Christensen (Fortuna, Calif., Fortuna Union HS) looking at a called third strike to get out of the frame.
Meador returned to the circle from first base in the second inning, allowing a walk and the Jones single but struck out the other three batters she faced in the inning.
Jones reached on an error to lead off the fifth inning, winding up on second after a wild pitch. She then came around to score after a wild throw on a failed pickoff attempt to make it a 7-1 game.
The Stars scored their final three runs on a fielder's choice and a two-run double in the sixth, then retired the Bulldogs in order to close out the game.
Jaci Smith and Bailey Whitmore each had two hits and three RBIs to lead OCU, which had 10 hits in the contest.
Betker took the loss for McPherson in the circle, scattering 10 hits while striking out a pair in six innings of work.
Saturday, 9 a.m. --- RV Bellevue 9, McPherson 0 (5 inn.)
Bellevue tallied six runs while sending 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning, then added three more in the fourth en route to the run-rule victory.
The Bruins pounded out six hits in the opening frame, including a two-run single by Sayde Woten, an RBI double by Emily Gigax and an RBI single by Alex Tooley. BU also had a run score on a groundout and another cross due to a McPherson fielding error.
McPherson used a two-out rally to load the bases in the third inning. Jones reached on a dropped third strike after the ball got away from Woten behind the plate, eventually moving around to third on a Conrad single and a walk by Trice before being forced out at home to end the frame when Christensen hit into a fielder's choice.
The Bulldogs also got singles from Deutsch in the fourth and Bacon in the fifth but could not bring them around to score.
Bellevue's Maddie Siedlik had two hits, while Woten drove in a pair and scored twice in support of Lexi LeCalsey, who scattered three hits and a pair of walks while striking out five to get the shutout.
Lang took the loss after surviving the first inning. She allowed six runs (two earned) on six hits.
Shelby Bonn (Shawnee, Kan., Mill Valley HS) threw the final three innings for McPherson, allowing three runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one.
The Bulldogs go back on the road next weekend to face Oklahoma Panhandle State University in a four-game weekend set in Goodwell, Oklahoma. Doubleheaders are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 17) and noon Sunday (Feb. 18). McPherson opens the home schedule the following Saturday (Feb. 24) with a doubleheader against Dordt (Iowa) to inaugurate Bulldog Park.
