LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College softball team saw an opportunity to solidify a position in the upper half of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) slip away Tuesday afternoon with a pair of close losses to the University of Saint Mary.
The Bulldogs (25-21, 10-10 KCAC) fell to the Spires (17-21, 10-10 KCAC) by scores of 2-1 and 5-3. The opener went eight innings.
Game 1 --- Saint Mary 2, McPherson 1 (8 innings)
The teams played to a scoreless draw through seven innings as
Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS) and Katlyn Schiefen engaged in a pitcher's duel.
In the eighth, McPherson moved ahead when pinch-runner
Ali Smith (Lodi, Calif., Lodi HS) scored from third when
Erica Almaraz's (San Bernandino, Calif., Aquinas HS)Â squeeze bunt went past Schiefen for a base hit. The Bulldogs were unable to add to the lead as
Taylor Perez (Tulsa, Okla., Memorial HS) popped up a bunt that was hauled in by the USM first baseman Camille Reyes. Reyes promptly threw the ball to first base to double off Almaraz to end the inning.
In the bottom half of the inning, Saint Mary used a sacrifice bunt to advance Alana Renshaw to third. Renshaw then scored on a Hailey Reece squeeze bunt back to Betker in the circle as Betker's throw back to the plate was not in time. Reece was later thrown out trying to steal second base for the second out of the inning. Kaila Trowbridge followed with a double to the fence in left, then raced home when Cassidy Harbert laced a single through the left side of the infield.
Almaraz's eighth-inning squeeze accounted for McPherson's only hit in the game. She also drew a two-out walk in the second inning. Aside from Smith in the eighth, no other Bulldog reached base against Schiefen, who struck out four in a complete-game win.
The Spires stranded a runner in the first, second, fourth and fifth innings and two in the sixth against Betker, who scattered seven hits and a pair of walks while striking out four in 7 2/3 innings
Reece and Trowbridge had two hits each for Saint Mary.
Game 2 --- Saint Mary 5, McPherson 3
McPherson committed a total of five errors in game two, including two in the opening frame that led to three Saint Mary runs. Trowbridge hit an RBI double to score Samantha Torres from second base, then scored when
Maile Deutsch (Palmer, Texas, Ennis HS) was unable to corral a throw from
Kylecia Taylor (Junction City, Kan., Junction City HS). The Spires' final run came on a Schiefen RBI single to center.
The Bulldogs would strand a runner in each of the first three innings before breaking through with a pair of runs in the fourth. Taylor scored from third when Torres was unable to cleanly field an
Amanda Connell (Wichita, Kan., Circle HS) chopper back to the circle. Almaraz scored two batters later on another high chopper, this time off the bat of
Jessica Jones (Brentwood, Calif., Liberty HS). McPherson would leave the bases loaded in the frame, however, as
Chelsea Conrad (Ione, Calif., Argonaut HS) lined out to Renshaw at second base for the third out.
Saint Mary countered with one run in the fourth and another in the fifth to extend their lead to 5-2. The Spires were aided on both run-scoring plays by Bulldog miscues in the field.
McPherson cut into the USM advantage with a run in the sixth as pinch-runner
Jasmine Curiel (Corona, Calif., Corona HS) scored on a Conrad sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. A Saint Mary fielding error allowed the Bulldogs to reload the bases but a strikeout ended the McPherson threat.
The Bulldogs were able to prevent the Spires from building on to their lead in the sixth despite USM getting runners to second and third with two outs as Betker struck out Abagail Gonzales for the final out of the inning.
McPherson would not be able to capitalize in the seventh as the Bulldogs went down in order to end the game.
USM out-hit McPherson, 13-9, with Trowbridge leading the way for the Spires with three hits, including a double, and two stolen bases. Torres, Schiefen and Lindsey Fishman added two hits apiece.
Taylor was the only Bulldog with multiple hits with two, including a double.
Jenna Christensen (Fortuna, Calif., Fortuna Union HS) also had a double, while Jones and Conrad each finished with a hit and an RBI.
Schiefen got the start for the Spires, allowing just one run on three hits in three innings, but a leadoff walk to Christensen in the fourth brought an early end to her day in the circle. Torres came on in relief and went the rest of the way, scattering six hits while striking out three en route to the win.
Katy Wilson (Princeton, Texas, Princeton HS) took the loss for McPherson. She was charged with all five runs (one earned) on 11 hits while pitching into the fifth inning. Betker got the final six outs for the Bulldogs, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out three.
McPherson concludes its regular season Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader against Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
