Allen, Texas – The McPherson College softball team opened up their 2022 campaign this past weekend at the Southern Collegiate Sports Invitational in Allen, Texas.
The Bulldogs played four games, a pair each on Saturday and Sunday, coming home with a 1-3 record. On Saturday they opened with match-up against Northwest University out of Kirkland, Washington then wrapped up the day against the Aggies of Oklahoma Panhandle State University. On Sunday they opened with the Columbia College Cougars and then finished the weekend against the Huston-Tillotson University Rams.
Against the Northwest Eagles in the first game Saturday, the Bulldogs rallied from a 3-0 deficit to score six runs in the bottom of the 5th inning to win 6-3. Freshman Jordyn Johnson was in the circle for the Bulldogs and picked up her first collegiate win. She pitched a complete game, allowing three runs on nine hits with one walk and five strikeouts. The Bulldog offense scored six runs on seven hits led by freshman Sierra Cortez who was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. The lone extra base hit for the Bulldogs was a bases clearing double by MacKenzie Egan that resulted in three runs scored.
In game two on Saturday, the Bulldogs scored four runs in the top of the first, then were held scoreless until the top of the seventh when they added two more. In between there the Aggies scored eight and handed the Bulldogs their first loss of the season 8-6. Freshman Alexis Obregon got the start in the circle but was pulled after an inning and two thirds. She allowed one run on four hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Reagan Kleppe came out of the pen and finished up the second inning and then worked the next three. She concluded the day with seven runs on nine hits with two walks and three punch-outs and was credited with the loss. Freshman Cynthia Nakata pitched the final inning. She held the Aggies scoreless with no hits, one walk, and one strikeout.
Offensively the Bulldogs scored their six runs on eight hits, led by Lacy Weaver who was 2 for 3 with a run scored and another driven in. The big hit for the Bulldogs was a two run home run by Summer Garcia, her first of the season, and also a team first.
With a 1-1 record heading into day two, the Bulldogs squared off with Columbia College in the first game on Sunday. The Bulldogs struggled to get their offense going, and fell to the cougars 4-1. Kleppe was back in the circle, and pitched a complete game. She allowed four runs on nine hits, with three strikeouts and zero walks. Her offense managed only one run on three hits, two singles by Weaver and Kennedy Johnson, and another home run from Garcia.
The Bulldogs wrapped up the weekend against the Huston-Tillotson Rams. The Bulldog offense bounced back with nine hits, but struggled to get timely hits with runners in scoring position. They wound up with four runs, but ultimately fell to the Rams 7-4. Garcia and Weaver continued to swing hot bats for the Bulldogs against the Rams. Both went 2 for 4, and this time it was Weaver who hit the long ball. Newcomers Kaitlyn Sarsfield (Fr.) and Nichole Martinez (Jr.) also had extra base hits for the Bulldogs, both doubles. Jordyn Johnson was back in the circle for the Bulldogs and picked up the loss. She allowed seven runs, only four of them earned, on 12 hits with a pair of walks and one strikeout.
Coach Segovia summed up the weekend saying, "It was great getting out and seeing some good competition this weekend. We saw a lot of good things and really like how hard we competed this weekend. As always we will continue to keep working and get better as we have a long season ahead. We are so thankful for the big crowds we had in Texas this weekend and also appreciate how our families took so good care of us the whole time!"
The Bulldogs will be back in action this upcoming weekend, traveling south again, this time to Chickasha, Oklahoma to take part in USAO's spring Invite. The Bulldogs will play twice on Friday and then twice more on Saturday.
