WICHITA, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- After picking up three victories on Friday, the McPherson College softball team was shut out of the win column Saturday in the Friends University Invitational at the Two Rivers Youth Complex.
The Bulldogs (7-8) fell to Northwestern College (Iowa), 9-2, in the opener, then saw a comeback attempt come up just short in a 7-6 loss to Midland University (Neb.) in the nightcap.
Northwestern 9, McPherson 2
The Red Raiders grabbed an early lead, turning two hits and four McPherson errors in the top of the first inning into a pair of runs.
Northwestern added to its advantage with a leadoff home run by Emma Schnell in the second inning, then posted four runs on five hits in the top of the fifth inning as Kayla Tindall hit a two-run home run and Katie Elliott hit a two-run single.
McPherson got on the board in the bottom half of the frame when
Ali Smith (Lodi, Calif., Lodi HS) scored on an RBI double by
Taylor Hires-Caulk (Fernley, Nev., Central Arizona College). The Bulldogs missed a chance to further cut into the lead after leaving the bases loaded.
Schnell pushed the lead to 9-1 with a two-run home run in the seventh.
The Bulldogs tacked on a run in the bottom of the seventh when
Jenna Christensen (Fortuna, Calif., Fortuna Union HS) scored on a
Kylecia Taylor (Junction City, Kan., Junction City HS) RBI single. McPherson had runners on first and second with one out but saw their rally come to a halt when slappers
Jessica Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) and
Chelsea Conrad (Ione, Calif., Argonaut HS) were called out for making contact with the ball outside the batter's box to end the game.
Schnell picked up the win in the circle, allowing two runs on nine hits while striking out two. She also finished with three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored at the plate.
Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS) took the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks in four innings. She struck out three, as did reliever
Shelby Bonn (Shawnee, Kan., Mill Valley HS).
Christensen and Hires-Caulk each had two hits.
Midland 7, McPherson 6
Midland jumped out to a 6-1 lead after four innings. The lone McPherson run came in the second inning when Christensen scored on a Taylor RBI single.
The Warriors' big inning came in the fourth when they plated three runs on four hits and three McPherson errors. The Bulldogs used three pitchers in the frame with Kylie Engleman leading off the inning with a solo home run off Bulldog starter
Katy Wilson (Princeton, Texas, Princeton HS).
Both teams scored a run in the sixth inning. Smith scored on a
Destiny Bacon (La Mesa, Calif., Grossmont HS) groundout for McPherson in the top half of the inning, while Nicole O'Haver came across on a Katlin Anders RBI double for Midland in the bottom half of the frame.
The Bulldogs rallied in the seventh inning, plating four runs on six hits. Jones led off the frame with a triple to center, then scored on a Conrad bunt single. After a
Kimberly Trice (Antioch, Calif., Tennessee State University) single to right,
Maile Deutsch (Palmer, Texas, Ennis HS) hit a three-run blast to left field to draw McPherson within a run. Bacon and Christensen reached on back-to-back one-out singles to left, but the Bulldogs could not plate either runner as the side was retired on a popout and a pair of strikeouts.
McPherson out-hit Midland, 13-12, with Jones, Deutsch, Bacon, Christensen and Taylor had two hits apiece.
Anders had three hits to lead Midland.
Jaylee Hinrichs struck out 10 in a complete-game effort for the win in the circle, while Wilson took the loss after allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits in three innings. Betker pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing just one run on one hit and a walk while striking out four to push her weekend total to 31 strikeouts in four games.
Up next for McPherson is its third and final big tournament of the season - the McPherson Invitational - next Friday and Saturday. The Bulldogs will welcome nine other teams to Wall Park to play a total of 24 games on three fields. On the slate for Friday are games against Doane, Morningside and Langston, while Saint Mary (Neb.) and Hastings await McPherson next Saturday.
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