Softball | 2/17/2020 11:50:00 PM
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Photo by Micah Gilbert
McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College Softball team improved their record to 7-2 with a pair of wins on Monday afternoon over the Doane University Tigers.
The Bulldogs rolled to a relatively easy victory in game one of the double header, defeating the Tigers 11-5. But, like they did 24 hours prior, they need a little late game heroics in game two to win 7-4 and complete the sweep.
After earning the win in game two on Sunday, Raegan Kleppe (Fr. McKinney, Texas) was back in the circle, getting the start in game one on Monday. Kleppe pitched five strong innings in game one, allowing five runs on nine this, fanning two and walking zero. In the top of the sixth, Coach Segovia went to his bullpen, and brought in his lefty, Shelby Bonn (Jr. Shawnee, Kan. ). Bonn worked the final two innings, holding the Tigers scoreless, and giving up just one hit.
The Bulldog offense plated 11 runs on 10 hits, led by Maile Deutch (Jr. Palmer, Texas), last week's KCAC Player of the Week, Brandy Trengove (Jr. Wheat Ridge, Colo.), and Kylecia Taylor (Jr. Junction City, Kan.), who each went 2 for 3. Taylor's multi-hit performance did the most damage. Her two hits were a triple and a homerun, resulting in five RBI. The other big Bulldog hit, a solo homerun, came off the bat of Ali Smith (Jr. Lodi, Calif.).
The Bulldogs led wire to wire, scoring runs in the first five innings. Their big innings were a five spot in the second, and then a three run effort in the fourth.
Game two was the polar opposite of the opener. The Bulldogs scored a run in the bottom of the first inning, but then were held without another run until the bottom of the fifth. In the top of the fifth, the Bulldogs gave up three runs to the Tigers, and trailed for the first time all day. The deficit was short lived as they bounced back in the bottom of the inning, retaking the lead by plating five runs. They added another insurance run in the sixth, and then held the Tigers to just one more run, securing the victory 7-4.
Brittany Baroni (Jr. Galt, Calif.), who had been rehabbing an elbow injury for the past six weeks, finally made her 2020 debut in the circle for the Bulldogs in game two. She looked like she hadn't missed a beat, pitching four shutout innings, scattering four hits, and striking out three. Unfortunately she didn't factor into the decision as the Tigers took the lead in the top of the fifth, before the Bulldogs retook it a half inning later. The final three innings were pitched by Katy Wilson (Jr. Princeton, Texas) and Shelby Bonn.
Four Bulldogs recorded multiple hits including a perfect 2 for 2 performance from Jasmine Curiel (Sr. Corona, Calif.), that included a single and a double. Others with a pair of hits were, Trengove, Deutsch, and Jessica Jones (Sr. Brentwood, Calif.
"I loved the energy our kids had game one," said Segovia. "We came out ready to play and we scored early. Doane is a good team that plays hard and is never out of a game. The offensive production was great." He went on to add, "In game 2 it was great to see our kids battle from being behind and keep pushing through to take the lead back in the final two innings." He concluded by pointing out a couple of individuals saying, "It was great to see Brittany Baroni come back from injury and throw a few innings to welcome her back this spring. Shelby Bonn finished the last 2 innings and the outcome was a great team win at home."
Next up for the Bulldogs is a trip to Springfield, Missouri to take part in a tournament hosted by Evangel University, next Friday.
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