Great Bend, Kan. - The season came to an end for the McPherson College softball team on Thursday evening at the Great Bend Spots Complex. The Bulldogs staved off elimination in their opening game of the day, defeating Bethany College 5-4 in extra innings, but lost a heart breaker in their next tournament game, 7-6 to the Avila University Eagles.
Against Bethany, the Bulldogs scored five runs on 12 hits, but made the game much closer than it should've been by stranding 13 runners on base. Destiny Bacon and Brandy Trengove led the Bulldog offense, each going 3 for 5 on the day. Joining them with a multi-hit game was Kai Redus, who was 2 for 4 with a solo homerun.
Raegan Kleppe was in the circle again for the Bulldogs. She went the distance, scattering 7 hits and giving up four runs to the Swedes. She picked up the win, striking out six and walking none.
The game went back and forth for the first few innings. The Bulldogs took the lead with a solo run in the bottom of the first, but the Swedes scored one each in the second and third innings to take a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs tied the game again, but surrendered the lead in the next half inning. The tied it again in the fifth on Redus' homerun, but then gave it up again in the top of the sixth.
They scored another run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at four, and after a scoreless seventh inning the game headed to extra innings. There is no international tie breaker in the KCAC tournament play so the Bulldogs and Swedes continued where they left off in the seventh.
Bacon led off with a bunt single, and then was bunted over to second base by Kylecia Taylor. They intentionally walked Maile Deutsch, bringing Trengove to the plate. On the first pitch she saw in the at-bat, she hit a ball into left field, brining Bacon around to score from second to end the game.
Next up was a match up with the Avila University Eagles. The Bulldog led the Eagles 2-1 after three innings, but a five spot for Avila in the top of the fourth inning gave them the lead 6-2. In the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs got three of those runs back to trim the Eagle lead to 6-5. Avila made it 7-5, scoring a run in the top of the fifth which would turn out to be a huge insurance run.
Heading into the bottom of the seventh the Bulldogs still trailed the Eagles 7-5. With two outs, Trengove scored when Jenna Christensen reached base on an errant throw by the Eagles' third baseman. Redus then singled into left center field and Macee Hollins, pinch running for Christensen came around third base and was headed home to tie the game when she tripped rounding the base. The got to her feet and tried to make it back to the base, but she got caught in a run down and was tagged out to end the game.
The Bulldogs scored their six runs on eight hits, led Bacon and Mackenzie Egan, who were 2 for 4. Bacon had an RBI and a run scored while Egan finished with two RBI. All eight of the Bulldog hit were of the single variety.
In the circle, the Bulldogs went with a trio of seniors. Brittany Baroni got the start and picked up the loss. She worked the first three and two-thirds, credited with six runs on seven hits with three walks and no strikeouts. Shelby Bonn was first out of the bullpen. She threw just one-third of an inning giving up a pair of hits and a walk. The final three innings went to Katy Wilson, who gave up one run on three hits with a strikeout and two walks.
"These kids played their hearts out there today," said Coach Segovia. "That's all you can ask for as a coach. These Seniors will go down as one the most successful group in program history. They leave here win a KCAC title and never having a losing season. The most important part is they leave better people. They are three time Bulldog Growler award winners and KCAC team of character champions. They have left their footprint in the sand and we coaches are blessed and thankful for each and every one of them. Love them all, they will do great things in life. Thank you to everyone that has supported this program this year!"
 The Bulldogs finish the season at 24-18 overall, and 15-9 in KCAC play. They had six 2nd Team All-Conference selecions, one first team selection, three gold glove winners, and Maile Deutsch was named Co-Player of the Year in the conference. They will lose nine seniors this spring to graduation, but have a good core group coming back for 2022.
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