MidAmerica Nazarene Sweeps @MacBulldogsSB

McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College softball team wrapped up a stretch of 12 games in 11 days Monday afternoon with a pair of nonconference losses to MidAmerica Nazarene at Bulldog Park.

The Bulldogs, who went 7-5 during that stretch, lost game one by a 7-5 score and game two, 12-1, in five innings.

Game 1 --- MidAmerica Nazarene 7, McPherson 5
MidAmerica Nazarene struck first in game one, tallying three runs on four hits in the top of the first inning. Megan Anthony hit an RBI single to left-center followed by a two-run double by Macie Jones to right-center.

McPherson responded in the bottom half of the inning, taking advantage of a pair of MNU errors to plate a run and cut the advantage to 3-1. The impact could have been greater, however, but the Bulldogs left the bases loaded.

The Pioneers added to their lead with a run in the third and three more in the fourth. Emily Robinson hit an RBI single, Jessica Molina scored on a wild pitch, and Anthony drove in Robinson with an RBI double.

Destiny Bacon (La Mesa, Calif., Grossmont HS) led off the Bulldog half of the fourth with a double to deep left field, the came around to score on a Jenna Christensen single to cut the deficit to 7-2. 

MNU threatened to increase its lead in the seventh after back-to-back singles by Anthony and Jones to open the frame. Aggressive base-running by the Pioneers did not pay off, though, as pinch-runner Christina Gochenour was thrown out trying to move from first to third on Jones' single and Jones was thrown out trying to score after Emma Gordon grounded into what became a 5-3-2-6 double play.

The Bulldogs mounted a late charge, scoring three runs in the seventh. Taylor Hires-Caulk (Fernley, Nev., Central Arizona College) was hit by a pitch to open the inning, then moved to third on a double by Taylor Perez (Tulsa, Okla., Memorial HS) before scoring on a Jessica Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) single. Perez followed on an RBI groundout by Chelsea Conrad (Ione, Calif., Argonaut HS) and Jones scored on a single to center by Kimberly Trice (Antioch, Calif., Tennessee State University). The rally was cut short, though, when Maile Deutsch (Palmer, Texas, Ennis HS) grounded out and Ali Smith (Lodi, Calif., Lodi HS) popped out, both to second base, to end the game.

Jostyn Bebout picked up the complete-game win for MNU, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits while striking out two. She also had a double.

Robinson and Anthony each had three hits, while Macie Jones had two hits and two RBIs.

Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS) gave up six runs on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts while pitching into the fourth inning. Already the program's career leader in strikeouts, she reached the 250-strikeout plateau. Shelby Bonn (Shawnee, Kan., Mill Valley HS) threw the final four innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out two.

Jessica Jones and Trice had two hits apiece, while Bacon and Perez each had a double.

Game 2 --- MidAmerica Nazarene 12, McPherson 1 (5 inn.)
McPherson struggled defensively out of the gate, committing four errors in the first inning, including two on the first batter of the game. MidAmerica Nazarene tallied three runs in the frame led by Robinson's two-run double to left.

After stranding one in the bottom half of the inning, the Bulldogs got two quick outs sandwiched around a Jessica Molina single to open the top of the second frame. The Pioneers rallied, though, for eight runs in the inning behind a two-run homer by Anthony and a bases-clearing double by Molina in her second at-bat of the frame to push their lead to 11-0. In total, three McPherson pitchers allowed four hits and issued four walks while the Bulldog defense committed a pair of errors.

The Bulldogs got on the board in the bottom of the third inning as Jessica Jones scored on a Conrad triple to deep right-center. MNU countered with a run in the top of the fourth as Gordon doubled in Macie Jones to take a 12-1 lead.

McPherson had two runners reach base in both the fourth and fifth innings but could not push another run across.

Robinson picked up the five-inning victory in the circle, allowing just one run while scattering five hits and three walks. She struck out eight.

Bulldog starting pitcher Katy Wilson (Princeton, Texas, Princeton HS) took the loss, allowing six runs on five hits and two walks before being removed after the Anthony home run. Sydney Lang pitched the final 3 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on four hits and striking out one. The strikeout moved Lang into sole possession of second place on McPherson's all-time chart with 191.

Molina had three hits and three RBIs for the Pioneers, while Robinson helped her cause with a hit, two RBIs and two runs scored. Gordon also had two hits, while Macie Jones had a single and three stolen bases.

Conrad had two of McPherson's four hits, while also drawing a walk and accounting for the team's lone RBI. Trice and Deutsch had the other two Bulldog hits.

McPherson (11-11) plays its final pre-KCAC games Friday afternoon when 15th-ranked Morningside College returns to McPherson for a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Bulldog Park. The Bulldogs defeated the Mustangs, 6-3, last Friday during the McPherson Invitational.