GOODWELL, Okla. (macbulldogs.com) ---
Destiny Bacon (La Mesa, Calif., Grossmont HS) had five hits and
Kimberly Trice (Antioch, Calif., Tennessee State University) drove in three as the McPherson College softball team split a doubleheader Saturday to open a four-game weekend series against Oklahoma Panhandle State University at Aggie Field. The Bulldogs took game one, 3-0, while the Aggies grabbed game two by a 7-5 score.
Game 1 --- McPherson 3, Oklahoma Panhandle State 0
McPherson grabbed a quick 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Trice drove in
Chelsea Conrad (Ione, Calif., Argonaut HS) with an RBI double, then scored on an Ali Smith RBI single.
The Bulldogs added to their lead in the third inning when Trice again drove in Conrad, this time with an RBI single up the middle. Bacon reached later in the frame to put runners on the corners, but both ended up being stranded.
OPSU threatened throughout the game with baserunners in each inning but was unable to push a run across against McPherson pitcher
Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS). The Aggies stranded 11 runners in all, including two each in the first, fourth, sixth and seventh innings.
Betker (2-1) scattered nine hits and four walks while striking out seven in the complete-game shutout.
Trice, Bacon and
Jessica Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) each had two hits to lead McPherson.
Jewell Lee and Jena Konieczka led Panhandle with two hits apiece, while Jaylinn Reyes drew a pair of walks.
Jacobs (1-3) took the loss for the Aggies, allowing three runs (one earned) on nine hits and a walk while striking out two.
Game 2 --- Oklahoma Panhandle State 7, McPherson 5
After both teams plated a run in the first inning, Panhandle broke the game open with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Lee hit a two-run double down the left field line, then came around to score on a Brooklyne Bolton sacrifice fly.
McPherson responded with two runs in the top of the third as
Maile Deutsch (Palmer, Texas, Ennis HS) drove in Conrad and
Taylor Hires-Caulk (Fernley, Nev., Central Arizona College) with a two-run single down the left-field line. The Bulldogs had the opportunity for more runs, but
Jenna Christensen (Fortuna, Calif., Fortuna Union HS) lined out to short with the bases loaded to end the inning.
The Aggies extended the lead to 5-3 in the fourth when Lee scored on a Bolton RBI single, only to see the Bulldogs counter in the fifth when Bacon drove in Deutsch with an RBI single up the middle.
OPSU added two more runs in the bottom half of the frame, taking advantage of a Bulldog error with the bases loaded.
McPherson stranded two runners in the sixth, then promptly sat the Aggies down in order in the bottom of the frame.
The Bulldogs opened the seventh with back-to-back singles by
Ali Smith (Lodi, Calif., Lodi HS) and Bacon.
Kylecia Taylor (Junction City, Kan., Junction City HS) followed with a one-out RBI single to drive in Smith, but a strikeout and a groundout to the pitcher ended the game.
McPherson had 14 hits in the contest but fell victim to four errors on defense.
Brittany Baroni (Galt, Calif., Consumes River College) took the loss, allowing five runs (one earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out one in four innings.
Shelby Bonn (Shawnee, Kan., Mill Valley HS) allowed two unearned runs on two hits in the final two innings.
Bacon finished with three hits, while Trice added two hits, walked twice and drove in one. Hires-Caulk and Jones each added two hits.
Lee had three hits, scored three times, and drove in a pair of runs to lead Panhandle.
Winning pitcher Julia Ibarra (1-3) pitched into the seventh inning, allowing five runs (four earned) on 13 hits and two walks before yielding to Lindsay Jacobs, who picked up the save after allowing one hit and striking out one in the seventh.
With the split, McPherson moved to 3-3 overall while OPSU is now 2-7. The teams return to Aggie Field at noon Sunday for another doubleheader.
