McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College softball team improved to 5-3 on the year with a pair of victories on Sunday over the Mount Marty University Lancers. The Bulldog won game one 8-5 and then followed that up with a 5-4 "walk-off" win in the second game.
Katie Wilson (Jr. Princeton, Texas) went the distance in the circle for the Bulldogs in game one. She pitched seven innings, allowing five runs on eight hits. She got the run support she needed from her offense to the tune of 11 runs on eight hits. Brandy Trengove (Jr. Wheat Ridge, Colo.) and Maile Deutsch (Jr. Palmer, Texas) led the Bulldog hit parade, both finishing the day going 2 for 3 from the plate. Both players had an extra base hit, Brandy a double, and Maile a two run home run.
In the second game, the Bulldogs continued to hit the ball, well, they just struggled to push runs across the plate. The wound up scoring four runs on 11 hits, but left 15 runners stranded on base. Deutsch and Trengove continue to hit the ball well. Maile added four more hits in as many attempts, including a pair of doubles, and Brandy went 3 of 4 with a double and a triple. Joining them with a multi-hit game was Jocelyn Mabery (Jr. Haltom, Texas), who was 2 of 4 with a pair of singles.
In the circle for the Bulldogs in game two was Raegan Kleppe (Fr. McKinney, Texas). She also pitched a complete game, giving up four runs on 13 hits and recoding seven strikeouts. The Bulldogs led 2-0 through four innings of play, but the Lancers took the lead in the top of the fifth when a defensive error by the Bulldogs gave the Lancers the opportunity to score four runs. The Bulldogs trimmed the Lancer lead to one, 4-3 with a run in the sixth.
The defense held the Lancers scoreless in the top of the seventh, setting up some drama in the last half inning. Jessica Jones (Sr. Brentwood, Calif.) scored the tying run and then with the bases loaded, a wild pitch from the Lancers allowed the winning run, represented by Heidi Fischer (Fr. Aledo, Texas) to scamper home.
"Really proud of how these ladies kept fighting," said Bulldog head coach Tony Segovia. "We beat a good team today and stayed positive when things were going wrong. Always good to get 2 wins at home with a great crowd today. We look to keep momentum tomorrow against Doane."
The Bulldogs will be back on the diamond on Monday, making up games against Doane University that were scheduled for Saturday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Bulldog Park.
