Photo by Natalia Ahrens
McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College softball team got back to .500 on the year, picking up two wins on Thursday over the Bethel College Threshers out a Bulldog Park.
In game one, the Bulldogs did all of their damage in the first two innings, scoring four runs in each of the first two frames, and all eight runs coming with two outs in the inning. With an eight run lead after the second inning, the Bulldog defense put the clamps on the Threshers. The Bulldogs held the visitors scoreless, and the run rule kicked in after the fifth inning, ending the game early.
Raegan Kleppe was in the circle for the Bulldogs in game one. She picked up the win, going the distance, and shutting out the Threshers on five hits. She finished the game with three strikeouts and just one walk.
Offensively, the Bulldogs scored their eight runs on nine hits, led by Maile Deutsch, Mackenzie Egan, and Jenna Christensen. Deutsch had just one official at bat going 1 for 1 with a single and two walks, and scoring two runs. Egan was 2 for 3 with two runs scored, and two more driven in, and Christensen had a perfect day at the dish, going 3 for 3 with two doubles, a single, two runs scored, and three RBI.
Game two was a different animal. The Bulldogs never trailed on their way to a 7-5 win, but Bethel made things uncomfortable along the way. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. In the top of the second, the Threshers got one back, and then tied the game at 2, in the top of the third. The Bulldogs responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the third to retake the lead 5-2.
In the top of the fourth the Threshers' Shailey Clark hit the first bomb of the day, a two run shot over the left center field fence, to pull her team back to within one, 5-4. The Bulldogs went scoreless in the fourth, but Jenna Christensen gave the home crowd something to cheer about, launching a two run homerun of her how to straight away center.
The Bulldog lead was three heading into the seventh. The Threshers plated one run with two outs in the inning, and had runners at first and third with the go ahead run at the plate. The Bulldogs went to their bullpen and brought back Kleppe to try and close out the game. The Threshers brought in a pinch hitter, and Kleppe struck her out looking to end the game.
Katy Wilson was in the circle for the Bulldogs in game two. She picked up the win going four innings, giving up four runs on eight hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Brittany Baroni came out of the pen in the fifth inning. She gave the Bulldog two and two-thirds innings of work giving up just one run on four hits with one strikeout. With her one-third inning of work, Kleppe was credited with the save.
Offensively, the Bulldogs managed their seven runs in game two on nine hits. Deutsch, Christensen, Brandy Trengove, and Destiny Bacon all went 2 for 3 in the game to lead the Bulldogs. Five of the nine Bulldog hits went for extra bases including doubles by Trengove, Egan and Deutsch (2), and the homerun by Christensen.
"I am super proud of everyone today," said Bulldog skipper Tony Segovia. "These were two great team wins. We got ahead early in both games and we just kept getting some timely hits to bring in some runs. We will continue to work hard and get ready for Saturday."
With the sweep, the Bulldogs are now 13-13 on the season, and 6-6 in KCAC action. Next up is a showdown with intra-county rival Bethany College on Saturday out at Bulldog Park. The Swedes are swinging the bats well right now so the Bulldogs could have their hands full. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
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