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Box Score 3 McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- For the second weekend in a row, the McPherson College softball team posted three wins on the opening day of a big tournament. Hosting the McPherson Invitational at Wall Park, the Bulldogs edged Doane University, 3-2, before toppling No. 15 Morningside College, 6-3, and run-ruling Langston University, 10-2, in five innings.
Game 1 --- McPherson 3, Doane 2
McPherson's first game of the day was a true grinder. The Bulldogs broke a scoreless tie in the fourth behind three straight singles that saw
Chelsea Conrad (Ione, Calif., Argonaut HS) plating the game's initial run.
The lead doubled in the fifth as
Kylecia Taylor (Junction City, Kan., Junction City HS) was hit by a pitch to open the frame and came all the way around to score.
The Tigers rallied for two runs in the top of the sixth to tie the score at 2-2.
The Bulldogs were retired in order in the bottom of the frame, leaving the door open for Doane, but the Tigers could not capitalize on a one-out single by Ashley Meyer in the seventh.
Taylor opened the last of the seventh with a single, then was moved around by consecutive sacrifices by
Taylor Perez (Tulsa, Okla., Memorial HS) and
Jessica Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) before coming home to score the game-winning run when Conrad reached on an error.
Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS) went the distance, striking out six to get the win.
Game 2 --- McPherson 6, No. 15 Morningside 3
After a scoreless first inning where both teams stranded a pair of runners, Morningside struck for two runs in the top of the second. Jess Walker doubled to deep left-center to score Kelsey Spongberg, then came around to score herself on a Tracey Edwards single to center.
McPherson countered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning, taking advantage of three Mustang miscues in the field.
Destiny Bacon (La Mesa, Calif., Grossmont HS) and
Jenna Christensen (Fortuna, Calif., Fortuna Union HS) reached on back-to-back errors to open the frame, then came around to score on back-to-back sacrifice flies by Taylor and
Taylor Hires-Caulk (Fernley, Nev., Central Arizona College) to tie the game. With the bases cleared, Jones reached on a ball back to Morningside pitcher Alex Nelson, then moved to second when Nelson's throw to first missed the mark and took third on a wild pitch before coming across to give McPherson the lead on an RBI double by Conrad.
The Mustangs put a pair of runners on in the third, but Bulldog starting pitcher Katy Wilson struck out Spongberg and Rachel Macias to get out of the jam.
Taylor and Hires-Caulk reached on one-out singles in the fourth, but Jones grounded into a fielder's choice that retired Taylor at third and Conrad grounded out to end the frame.
Morningside took advantage of the missed opportunity by the Bulldogs, plating one in the top of the fifth to tie the game. After reaching on a error at short, Mackenzie Lose scored on a Carson Cameron RBI single up the middle.
McPherson regained the lead with two runs in the fifth, opening the inning with three straight singles. An wild throw on the last of those base hits allowed pinch runner
Erica Almaraz (San Bernandino, Calif., Aquinas HS) to score from third. Bacon and Christensen followed with consecutive fielder's choices - the first retired
Maile Deutsch (Palmer, Texas, Ennis HS) at home, while
Ali Smith (Lodi, Calif., Lodi HS) beat the throw home on the second. The Bulldogs looked to be building momentum for a big inning but Taylor lined a ball hard back to Macias, who then stepped on first to complete the unassisted double play to end the inning.
The Bulldogs tacked on one more run in the sixth as Hires-Caulk scored on a wild pitch after reaching on a dropped fly ball in the outfield to open the frame.
Wilson picked up the win, scattering three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four in five innings.
Shelby Bonn (Shawnee, Kan., Mill Valley HS) gave up just two hits in two scoreless innings of work to get the save.
Nelson took the complete-game loss, allowing six runs - just one earned - on nine hits.
Conrad and Deutsch each had two hits for McPherson. Lose, Lexi Stolen and Jess Walker all had two hits for Morningside.
Game 3 --- McPherson 10, Langston 2 (5 innings)
After conceding two early runs, the Bulldogs erupted for eight runs in the second inning to pull away from Langston.
The Lions grabbed the early advantage with two runs in the top of the first. Monique Collins opened the game with a single to shallow right off Betker. Taylor Officer followed with a single to left-center three batters later, then the pair scored on a triple to right by Ryann Gibson.
McPherson matched the total in the bottom half of the inning. Conrad laced a one-out double to left-center, then scored when Dionne Robinson's throw to first on a Smith single ended up in foul territory. Deutsch later scored on a wild pitch.
Betker worked around a one-out walk in the top of the second to keep the game tied. It wouldn't stay that way for long, however, as the Bulldogs tallied eight in the bottom half of the frame. Taylor opened the frame with a triple down the right-field line, then scored on a Jones RBI single through the left side. A stolen base and wild pitch moved Jones to third. She then beat the throw home on a squeeze play off the bat of Conrad. Conrad later scored on a Smith sacrifice fly, while Christensen drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 6-2. Taylor and Hires-Caulk followed with back-to-back two-run doubles to push the lead to 10-2.
Betker retired the side in order in the third and fourth innings and gave up only a two-out walk to Jenesis Spires in the fifth before striking out Taylor Jai Renaud to end the game.
Betker gave up two runs while scattering four hits and a pair of walks in five innings of work. She struck out eight.
Kaori Corn was tagged for all 10 McPherson runs on six hits and four walks in two innings. Nalah Baker threw the final two innings for the Lions, allowing just a walk.
Taylor rapped a double and a triple to account for two of the Bulldogs' six hits. She and Hires-Caulk drove in two apiece. Gibson had a single and a triple to lead Langston.
"I was proud of how we played across the board," said head coach
Ashley Hickman. "Today's games provided vastly different scenarios and we had to fight different types of battles in each game. We faced some really good teams that knew how to erase a lead and we were able to face that challenge and come out on top. For us to try a few different things and still be able to grind out three wins today is a huge confidence builder.
"Our pitching was a huge factor in how we played today. When we can have three different pitchers come out and keep teams from continuously hitting, it's big. Katy, Christie and Shelby really put it all together today and gave us three solid performances.
"When we can put it all together offensively, our run production does happen. That's been the key this year. There have been some days where a particular individual isn't hitting, but someone is there to pick them up. We're really glad that is what we have on our team right now, and we hope that continues because that's not something you can teach."
The Bulldogs (10-2) close out the tournament with two more games Saturday afternoon. First up is a matchup with the College of Saint Mary at 1 p.m. followed by a game against Hastings at 3 p.m. McPherson already owns one victory over each of the schools this season. The Bulldogs defeated CSM, 6-2, at the Cowtown Classic and beat Hastings, 9-0, in five innings last Friday at the Friends Invitational.
