Brownwood, Texas – After the McPherson College softball team found out their games this weekend in Springfield, Missouri were going to be canceled because of weather, the coaching staff scrambled to find someone to play this week.
The Bulldog coaches reached out to several teams, trying to bring them to McPherson, but didn't have any luck. They eventually found Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, but they were going to have to go on the road in order for it to work. So the Bulldogs made the 7 ½ hour drive on Tuesday afternoon to play a double header against the Yellow Jackets. The trip paid off as the Bulldogs were able to sweep the Yellow Jackets, winning 4-0 in game one and then taking the second game 3-1.
Christie Betker (Jr. Reno, Nev.) was in the circle for the Bulldogs in game one. She went the distance, earning the win and the shutout, giving up just four hits with 13 strikeouts and just one walk. The defense behind Betker was solid, committing just one error, and she got more than enough run support from the offense, which scored four runs on eight hits.
Three Bulldogs recorded multiple hits, led by
Kylecia Taylor (So. Ft. Hood, Texas) who was 2 for 3 with a single, a double and an RBI.
Jenna Christensen (So. Fortuna, Calif.), and
Destiny Bacon (So. LaMesa, Calif.), also recorded a multi-hit game. Christensen was 2 for 4 with one run batted in, while Bacon was 2 for 4 with a run scored. The two other Bulldogs with hits in game one, were
Jessica Jones (Jr. Brentwood, Calif.), and
Jasmine Curiel (Jr. Corona, Calif.).
The first inning was scoreless, but the Bulldogs broke through and got on the board in the top of the 2
nd. Both teams then put up goose eggs in the next three innings, but the Bulldogs got their offense going again in the final two innings, scoring one run in the sixth, and two in the seventh.
In game two,
Sydney Lang (Sr. Topeka, Kan.) got the start for the Bulldogs in the circle. She pitched a gem as well, allowing just one run on four hits in seven innings of work. She pounded the strike zone the entire game, resulting in four strikeouts and zero walks. The defense did a masterful job behind her, and came away with zero errors.
At the plate, the Bulldogs pushed across three runs on six hits, with three walks and three strikeouts. Jones continued to swing a hot bat, going 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored to lead the offense. Taylor and
Chelsea Conrad (Sr. Ione, Calif.) each recorded a single, but the big hit of the game was a solo homerun by
Katy Wilson (So. Princeton, Texas) in the top of the second inning.
Wilson's homer got the Bulldogs on the board in the second inning, and then they added another run to take a 2-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets then cut the lead in half with a run in the bottom of the inning, but that was all of the scoring for the next four innings. The Bulldogs got an insurance run in the top of the seventh to extend the lead to 3-1. Turns out they didn't need it as Lang was able to pitch herself out of a small jam in the bottom of the seventh. The Yellow Jackets failed to score and the Bulldogs completed the sweep.
"We pitched it very well in Game 1", commented Bulldog head coach
Tony Segovia. "Christy [Betker] did a great job with
Jenna Christensen behind the plate. They were in sync the whole game. Defense played very well. We were able to push a couple of runs across the plate to secure the game."
He added, "Game 2 was a lot the same. Sydney [Lang] gave us a great outing along with Jenna behind the plate. Offense did enough to score a few and defense was absolutely perfect in the game."
He finished by adding, "Overall always good when you can get wins on the road. Proud of all the players for getting these team wins and all the work they are doing as a unit!"
With no games this weekend, the Bulldogs are scheduled to take the field next on February 23
rd when they play their home opener against Mount Marty College (Iowa). The double header against the Lancers is slated for a 1:00 pm start out at Bulldog Park.
