McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College softball team split a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) doubleheader against Bethel College Wednesday afternoon at Bulldog Park, coming from behind for a 7-6 win in game one before falling 4-2 in the game two.
The Bulldogs (24-18, 9-7 KCAC) wrapped up their inaugural season at Bulldog Park with a 7-9 mark.
Game 1 --- McPherson 7, Bethel 6
The Threshers (17-20, 8-10 KCAC) broke through for a run in the top of the first inning as Madison McDowell scored on a Leisle Hoffman RBI double.
McPherson countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame as
Jessica Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS) scored on a
Jenna Christensen (Fortuna, Calif., Fortuna Union HS) sacrifice fly and
Maile Deutsch (Palmer, Texas, Ennis HS) came in on a
Kylecia Taylor (Junction City, Kan., Junction City HS) RBI double to right-center.
Alexis Wilson led off the second inning by lofting an 0-1 pitch from
Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS) into center field. Caught by the wind, the ball ticked off the outstretched glove of a sprinting
Chelsea Conrad (Ione, Calif., Argonaut HS). Running all the way, Wilson rounded the bases for the first inside-the-park home run in Bulldog Park history. Kerrigan Simons doubled two batters later, but was caught trying to steal third on a ball four issued to McDowell.
Erica Almaraz (San Bernandino, Calif., Aquinas HS) pushed McPherson back in front in the bottom of the frame with her first career home run - a solo shot to left-center.
After a scoreless third, Bethel tied the game on a Michelle Schrag homer to right-center in the fourth inning.
Both teams plated three runs in the fifth. McDowell led off the Bethel half of the frame with a solo home run. Hoffman later scored on a Jeni Reichenberger RBI single, while Katie Schrag reached on an infield single and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
In the bottom half of the frame, McPherson loaded the bases on a walk and a pair of base hits and saw them all come in with a long single to left off the bat of Almaraz.
The Threshers were retired in order in the sixth, opening the door for the Bulldogs. Jones reached on an infield single, then moved around on a sacrifice bunt and a passed ball before scoring the go-ahead run on a Christensen single to left-center.
Betker worked around a two-out single up the middle by Katie Schrag, getting Reichenberger to pop out to
Destiny Bacon (La Mesa, Calif., Grossmont HS) at short to end the game.
With winds blowing out to right field throughout the day, the teams combined for 23 hits including nine extra-base hits and four home runs in the opener.
Jones had four of McPherson's 12 hits and scored twice, while Almaraz had two hits and three RBIs.
Katie Schrag led Bethel with three hits, while McDowell and Hoffman had two hits apiece.
Betker picked up the win in the circle for the Bulldogs, striking out five while scattering 11 hits and a walk in a complete-game effort.
McDowell took the loss, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 12 runs and four walks. She also struck out five.
Game 2 --- Bethel 4, McPherson 2
Bethel grabbed an early lead in game two with a run in the first aided by a pair of McPherson errors, then extended it to 3-0 with a Krystin McKelpin RBI double in the second and a Reichenberger RBI single in the fifth.
The Bulldogs had no answer for Bethel starter Rylie Scudder early on. Jones reached on a bunt single to lead off the first inning, but McPherson couldn't muster another baserunner until the sixth inning when
Taylor Perez (Tulsa, Okla., Memorial HS) reached on a double off the glove of McDowell at second base.
Taylor Hires-Caulk (Fernley, Nev., Central Arizona College) followed with a two-run home run to deep right-center to cut the Bethel lead to 3-2. After Jones popped out to short, Conrad laced a triple down the right-field line. She would be stranded there, however, as Deutsch and Christensen flew out to end the inning.
Bethel doubled its lead with a run in the top of the seventh inning. Alyssa Sullivan rapped a one-out double to deep left-center. Hoffman came in to run for Sullivan and scored two batters later when Reichenberger lofted a high fly ball that dropped in behind the bag at first for an RBI single.
McPherson had the start of a rally in the bottom of the seventh as Taylor led off the frame with a double to right.
Scudder followed with three straight strikeouts to end the game, finishing with 13 strikeouts overall. She scattered five hits to get the complete-game victory and did not issue a walk.
Reichenberger had three hits and drove in two, while McKelpin had a pair of doubles and an RBI. Alexis Wilson also had two hits.
Katy Wilson (Princeton, Texas, Princeton HS) took the loss for the Bulldogs, allowing four runs (three earned) on 11 hits and a walk while striking out one in seven innings.
Kansas Wesleyan Doubleheader Moved Up to Friday
Due to a forecast of inclement weather for Saturday, McPherson's scheduled KCAC doubleheader at Kansas Wesleyan University has been moved up to Friday. First pitch from Bill Burke Park is slated for 2 p.m.
