Photo by Natalia Ahrens
McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College softball team got back on the winning track, picking up a pair of victories this weekend in their home tournament, the MC Classic.
The Bulldogs opened the weekend on Saturday afternoon with a 6-3 win over the Mayville State University Comets. The Bulldogs led the Comets 2-0 through the first five innings, but allowed MSU to score two runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game. Neither team was able to crack the scoreboard in the seventh so the game headed in to extra innings. For the Bulldogs it was their third extra inning game in a row.
 The Comets took the lead for the first time in the top of the eighth inning, 3-2. In the bottom of the eighth, the Bulldogs tied the game at 3, when Sierra Cortez scored on a ground ball hit by Lacy Weaver. The next Bulldog batter, Brandy Trengove then ended the game with a three run homerun.
Raegan Kleppe picked up the win in the circle for the Bulldogs. She pitched all eight innings, allowing three runs, but only one of them earned, on 10 hits. She had great control all game, finishing with 13 strikeouts and zero walks.
Offensively, Trengove and Mackenzie Egan paced the Bulldogs. Trengove went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 4 RBI while Egan was 2 for 3 with 1 RBI.
On Sunday morning, the Bulldogs took the field again, this time squaring off against the Mount Marty University Lancers. Once again, the Bulldogs would need extra innings to secure the victory, this time in ten innings.
The Lancers took an early lead 1-0 through three and a half innings of play. In the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs broke the game open, scoring four runs in the frame. In the next half inning, the Lancers got right back in the game, tying the game with three runs. Both team scored a run in the seventh inning, and the game headed into extra innings knotted at five. In the eighth and ninth innings, each team scored one run keeping the game tied (7-7) heading into the tenth. The Bulldog defense held the Lancers scoreless in the tenth setting up their walk-off win in the bottom of the frame.
The Bulldogs had runners on second and third and no one out. Ellis Woodruff hit a ball that deflected off the Lancer pitcher giving Trengove just enough time to score from third base giving the Bulldogs the 8-7 win.
Three Bulldog pitchers, all of them freshmen, combined for the win. Jordyn Johnson got the start and worked the first four and one-third innings. She allowed four runs on ten hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Alexis Obregon was first out of the bull pen going two and two-thirds, giving up one run on three hits with two punch-outs and one free pass. Next out of the pen was Abigail Cordova. She pitched all of the extra innings, and was credited with the win, allowing two runs on three hits with one strikeout and one walk.
Egan led the Bulldog offense with a 3-4 performance from the dish. Others with multiple hits included Molly Booker and Amanda Ambrosy who both went 2 for 4.
Coach Segovia commented on the weekend saying, "Very proud of the team this weekend. Last week we lost close games in extra innings and this week we stayed strong and found a way to win two games at home. We will use this momentum and get ready for conference play on Tuesday!"
 With the wins, the Bulldogs wrap up the non-conference portion of their schedule at 8-11. They will open up KCAC play on Tuesday, when they host the Tabor College Bluejays at Bulldog Park. The Bulldogs and Bluejays will play a doubleheader starting at 2:00 pm.
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