Photo by Jakob Komel
McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College softball team played their home opener on Sunday, hosting the 12th ranked Grandview University Vikings. The Bulldogs have not shied away from tough competition this season. They entered the series 3-6 on the season, and Sunday's games marked their 5th & 6th games against teams ranked in the NAIA top 15.
In game one, the Bulldogs and Vikings were tied 1-1 after the first inning. After a scoreless second inning, the Vikings broke the game open with seven unanswered runs, four in the 4th inning, and three more in the 5th. The Bulldogs stopped the bleeding in the bottom of the 4th by getting back on the scoreboard with a run. They added two more in the bottom of the 7th, but the rally stalled, and the Vikings took the opener 8-4.
Freshman Jordyn Johnson was in the circle for the Bulldogs to start game one, and collared the loss. She worked the first three innings giving up eight runs, six of them earned, on nine hits with one strikeout and one walk. Fellow freshman Abigail Cordova came out of the pen to pitch the final four innings. She held the Viking scoreless on four hits with a pair of strikeouts and one walk.
Offensively, the Bulldogs scored their four runs on four hits, led by Sierra Cortez and Lacy Weaver. Cortez was 2 for 4 with a pair of singles, and two runs scored. Weaver also went 2 for 4 with a double, and two RBI.
In game two, the Bulldogs trailed the Vikings 2-0 through the first two and a half innings. In the bottom of the 3rd they took the lead when Weaver, with the bases loaded, hit a bases clearing triple to put the Bulldogs up 3-2. They made it 4-2 an inning later on an RBI double by Molly Booker. Unfortunately that was the last of the scoring for the Bulldogs. The Vikings tied the game with two runs in the 5th, then took the lead for good in the top of the 6th. The Vikings completed the sweep, escaping with a 5-4 win in the finale.
Reagan Kleppe was in the circle for the Bulldogs, going the distance and taking the loss. She gave up five runs on nine hits, with nine strikeouts and three walks. The Bulldog offense scored their four runs on five hits led by Cortez and Booker. Cortez was 2 for 4 again with two more singles, and a run scored. Booker went 2 for 3 with a run scored and another driven in.
Coach Segovia summed up the day saying, "This is a very good Grandview team. We have played 4 national ranked teams now so we have seen some good competition. Our kids keep battling and playing hard. We will keep working and competing every day!"
With the losses, the Bulldogs are now 3-8 on the season. They are back on the diamond tomorrow morning at 11:00 for a double header with the William Penn University Statesmen out at Bulldog Park.
