@MacBulldogsSB Bows Out of #KCACsb Tournament With Loss to Friends

GREAT BEND, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The 2018 season drew to a close for the McPherson College softball team Friday afternoon with a 6-2 loss to Friends University in a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Tournament elimination game at the Great Bend Sports Complex.

The fourth-seeded Falcons plated a pair of runs in the top of the first inning on a two-run double that tipped off the outstretched glove of McPherson center fielder Chelsea Conrad (Ione, Calif., Argonaut HS), giving starter Maci Walker a lead before she threw her first pitch.

Friends tacked on another run in the third on a Breanna Vest RBI double deep down the left field line and added three more off five hits in the fifth off McPherson starter Christie Betker (Reno, Nev., Reno HS) to push the lead to 6-0 before the Bulldogs could get on the board. Vest, Kennedy Brunson and Mackenzie Nichols provided RBI singles in the frame for the Falcons.

Taylor Hires-Caulk (Fernley, Nev., Central Arizona College) led off the bottom half of the fifth with a double to deep left-center, then moved to third on a bunt single by Chelsea Conrad (Ione, Calif., Argonaut HS) before scoring when a ball off the bat of Conrad was misplayed at first base. Kylecia Taylor (Junction City, Kan., Junction City HS) drew a two-out walk to load the bases, but McPherson couldn't add to its tally as Destiny Bacon (La Mesa, Calif., Grossmont HS) struck out to end the inning. 

Shelby Bonn (Shawnee, Kan., Mill Valley HS) came on in relief of Betker to start the sixth and was greeted by back-to-back singles by Isabella Gonzalez and Shelby Belloni. An error allowed the Falcons to load the bases with just one out, but Bonn was able to work out of the jam without any damage by getting a strikeout and a groundout to Hires-Caulk at second base to end the inning.

It looked as if McPherson might challenge in the sixth as Erica Almaraz (San Bernandino, Calif., Aquinas HS) led off the frame with a triple down the left-field line. After a popout, Hires-Caulk lined out to Erica Escobar at short. Escobar then fired the ball to Renee Downey at third to catch Almaraz off the bag and complete the inning-ending double play.

Friends was retired in order in the seventh, leaving the Bulldogs with one final opportunity to summon some tournament magic. Jones rapped a leadoff double down the right field line and scored two batters later on a RBI single to shallow center by Maile Deutsch (Palmer, Texas, Ennis HS), but Jenna Christensen (Fortuna, Calif., Fortuna Union HS) flew out to left and Taylor grounded out on a ball back to Walker in the circle to end the game.

Walker recorded the complete-game win, scattering two runs on seven hits and a pair of walks while striking out five.

After throwing two complete games Thursday, Betker took Friday's loss, allowing six runs on nine hits and two walks over five innings. She posted four strikeouts to push her school-record season total to 233. Her career total after two seasons sits at 393, nearly double that of Sydney Lang (Topeka, Kan., Shawnee Heights HS), who sits second on McPherson's career list with 199 Ks.

"Christie's a great leader when it comes to being in the circle and getting the job done," said head coach Ashley Hickman. "She pushed herself until her final pitch. She's just a sophomore, though, so she still has time to grow and more time to improve and that will make the team better as well."

Bonn threw the final two frames, allowing just two hits and striking out a pair.

Belloni had three hits, a stolen base and two runs scored to lead the Falcons offensively. Vest had two hits, including a double, and drove in a pair, while Kylie Fox had two hits and scored twice. Smith also had an RBI double and drew a walk.

Jones had two hits - including a double - for McPherson, pushing her single-season school record total to 84. She also scored her 48th run of the year, bettering the mark of 47 she set last season. Taylor and Almaraz each had a hit and drew a walk.

"All year, this team prided itself on always stepping on the field ready to go," noted Hickman. "That was no different today. We still opportunities where we could have scored or where we could hold them defensively. Unfortunately, we weren't able to come through in those spots, but they gave it their all until the final pitch."

Friday's loss marked the final game in a Bulldog uniform for three seniors - Hires-Caulk, Valerie Romero (Lakewood, Calif., West Hills CC) and Amanda Connell (Wichita, Kan., Circle HS).

"We got production throughout the lineup today," Hickman added. "Considering there was just one senior in the lineup, that bodes well for the future. The rest all have room to grow and mature and the focus now will be on getting timely production."

The Bulldogs finish the year at 27-24 overall, breaking the single-season wins mark of 26 set a year ago.