Softball Sweeps Bethany, Win Streak Now at Five Games

Photo by Micah Gilbert

McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College softball team extended their current winning streak to five games, picking up two wins on Tuesday afternoon against Intra-county rival Bethany College out at Bulldog Park.

The Bulldogs shut out the Swedes in game one, winning 8-0 and ending the game an inning early via the run rule, which is an eight run lead after a minimum of five innings played. Christie Betker (Jr. Reno, Nev.) was in the circle for the Bulldogs, and picked up her team leading ninth win of the season. She pitched a complete game, shutting out the Swedes on just two hits. The defense behind Betker was spectacular, and the offense came through with plenty of run support to secure the win.

The offense was led by four Bulldogs who came up with multiple hits against the Swedes. Ali Smith (Jr. Lodi, Calif.) had a perfect day at the plate, going 3 for 3 with three singles, and one RBI. Jessica Jones (Jr. Brentwood, Calif.), Jenna Christensen (So. Fortuna, Calif.), and Maile Deutsch (So. Palmer, Texas) each had two this, five of six were singles, and the sixth was a homerun. The homerun came in the final at bat of the game, off the bat of Christensen. It was her second walk off homerun in the past three games.

In game two, the Bulldogs scored the same number of runs as in game one, but did so on half the number of hits. The six hits for the Bulldogs included four singles, a triple, and an inside the park homerun. Jones led the way for the Bulldog offense recording two hits, one of which was the inside the park homerun, in four trips. She also had two runs scored, and four RBI to finish out her stat line. Jones is having a special season for the Bulldogs. At the start of the day, her batting average for the season was sitting at .495. With her 4 for 7 performance against the Swedes on Tuesday, she is now sitting at an even .500.

The other extra base hit for the Bulldogs in game 2 on Tuesday was a first inning triple by Christensen that drove in the Bulldogs' first run of the game. An inning later she would drive in a second run, this time on a sacrifice fly.

On defense, the Bulldogs sent Brittany Baroni (Jr. Galt, Calif.) to the circle for the start. She picked up the win with six and two-thirds strong innings, allowing just two runs and scattering six hits. With two outs in the top of the seventh, and runners on first and second. Coach Segovia went to his bullpen and brought in Sydney Lang (Sr. Topeka, Kan.) to finish off the Swedes. Lang got the first hitter she faced to pop out to Taylor Perez (So. Tulsa, Okla.) at second base, on the first pitch she threw.

"I am super proud of the team today," said Coach Segovia. We threw well in game one and offensively we found a way to score late and secure the victory. In game two we scored quickly and settled in on the mound. All three pitchers did a great job today. It is always great to win two at home, and we want to carry this momentum to Saturday."
 
On Saturday, as Coach Segovia alluded to, the Bulldogs will go on the road to play a doubleheader at Sterling College. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm, and will be streamed online at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sterling/.