Photo by Natalia Ahrens
Bartlesville, Okla. – The McPherson College softball team wrapped up the regular season with a trip south to Bartlesville, Oklahoma for a doubleheader with the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles. The Bulldogs returned home Tuesday evening having earned a split with the Eagles. The Bulldogs opened the series with an 8-1 win, but fell in the finale 9-7.
The Eagles got on the board first with a single run in the top of the first inning. After that neither team cracked the scoreboard again until the fifth. The Bulldog took the lead with a pair of runs in the fifth, added an insurance run in the sixth, then broke the game open with a five spot in the seventh. After giving up the initial run by the Eagles in the first, the Bulldogs shored things up defensively and shut down the home team the rest of the way.
Raegan Kleppe was in the circle for game one. After struggling a little bit in the first inning, she settled in and threw a gem. She wound up going the distance, allowing just one run on five hits and finished with two strikeouts and a pair of walks. She outdueled OKWU's Tahlor Stefek, last week's KCAC Pitcher of the Week, who averaged 13 strikeouts in the Eagles' two games last week.
Offensively, the Bulldogs scored their eight runs on ten hits led by Aubree Beggs who went 3 for 4 with a triple and 3 RBI. She was joined in the multi-hit club by Jenna Christensen who was 2 for 3 with two runs scored, and Brandy Trengove who was 2 for 4 with a solo homerun.
There was a lot of offense from both teams in game two. The Bulldogs got things going, putting up three runs in the top of the second. The Eagles responded by taking the lead with four runs a half inning later. The Bulldogs tied the game in the top of the third, but then surrendered four more runs to the Eagles in their next at bat. The home team added another run in the bottom of the four to lead 9-4. After a scoreless fifth inning, the Bulldogs rallied with three runs in their half of the sixth. Unfortunately the rallied stalled, and the Eagles escaped with the win, 9-7.
Three Bulldogs saw time in the circle in game two. Brittany Baroni got the start and was collared with the loss. She put in two and two-thirds innings of work, allowing eight runs on ten hits with no strikeouts and one walk. Shelby Bonn came out of the bullpen and finished off the third inning and then threw the next two innings. She gave up just one run on three hits, and had two strikeouts. Last up was Katy Wilson, who pitched the final inning. She held the Eagles scoreless on two hits with one strikeout and one walk.
On offense, the Bulldogs pounded out 12 hits, leading to seven runs. Destiny Bacon, Kylecia Taylor, Taylor Perez, and Trengove recorded nine of the Bulldogs' 12 hits. Bacon led the way with a 3 for 4 performance that included two runs scored. Taylor was 2 for 4 with two RBI singles while Perez also went 2 for 4 with a run scored. Trengove continued to swing a hot bat for the Bulldogs. She had two hits in four plate appearances which included a double and a triple.
"I am very proud of the team's effort today," said Bulldog skipper Tony Segovia. "We wanted two but came up a little short. Going 9-1 the last 10 games was an awesome feeling. We will used this momentum to get ready for the tournament."
With the split, the Bulldogs finish the regular season with an overall record of 22 wins and 16 losses, and were 15-9 in KCAC games. They are currently in the fifth spot in the conference standings and will sit and wait to see who they will draw in next week's KCAC tournament, beginning on Wednesday in Great Bend, Kansas.
