Photo by Natalia Ahrens
Hillsboro, Kan. – The McPherson College softball team opened up KCAC play on Tuesday with a road trip to Hillsboro, Kansas for a match-up with the Tabor College Bluejays. The Bulldogs ended up splitting the two games, falling in game one 2-1, and the bouncing back to take the night cap 4-0.
In the opening game, the Bulldogs put together a couple of hits in the top of the first inning, and scored a run, but then the well went dry. They were held scoreless the rest of the way, and only managed three more hits in innings two through seven. Tabor tied the game in the bottom of the first, and but didn't take the lead until their half of the sixth when they plated what turned out to be the winning run.
Offensively, the Bulldogs were led by Destiny Bacon, who went 2 for 4 with a pair of singles. The three other Bulldog hits were also of the single base variety by Jenna Christensen, Kylecia Taylor, and Summer Garcia.
Brittany Baroni got the start in the circle in game one. She went four and two-thirds, allowing one run on eight hits with one walk and zero strikeouts. Shelby Bonn came on in relief of Baroni in the fifth inning. She pitched the final inning and a third giving up one run on three hits, with one strikeout. With Tabor taking the lead in the sixth inning, Bonn was collared with the loss.
In the second game, the Bulldog bats, finally came alive. They scored four runs on 13 hits, led by Mackenzie Egan, who was 3 for 4 with three singles a run scored, and one RBI, and Maile Deutsch, who was also 3 for 4 but had a double and a pair of singles. The big hit of the night came off the bat of Jenna Christensen who hit a three run bomb to cap off a four run fifth inning.
Reagan Kleppe was in the circle for the Bulldogs, and she had it going. She went the distance, shutting out the Bluejays on four hits, with a pair of walks and one strikeout.
"It's always tough to get wins on the road in conference play," said Bulldog head coach Tony Segovia. I am proud of the kids for getting game two tonight. We will continue to work and get ready for Saturday."
With the split, the Bulldogs move to 8-8 overall and 1-1 in KCAC play. They will be back on the diamond on Saturday when they travel to Winfield, Kansas for a KCAC doubleheader with the Southwestern College Moundbuilders. First pitch is slated for 1:00 pm.
