Oklahoma City, Okla. – The McPherson College went 1-3 this weekend at the Hosea Bell Red Dirt Classic hosted by Langston University. The Bulldogs won their opening game of the weekend on Friday, but dropped the final three games. Their three losses were all competitive contests two of them one run losses and the other a three run loss to a nationally ranked opponent.
On Friday, the Bulldogs opened the tournament with a 4-3 win over Texas A&M University – San Antonio. The Bulldogs were held scoreless through five innings, and trailed the Jaguars 3-0 heading into their half of the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, the Bulldog bats finally came alive. They scored four runs in the inning, took the lead and then held the Jaguars scoreless in the top of the seventh to secure the win.
Jordyn Johnson was in the circle for the Bulldogs for the start, pitching the first four innings but not factoring in the decision. The win ultimately went to Alexis Obregon, who came on in relief of Johnson in the fifth inning, and worked the final three innings of the game.
The Bulldog offense tallied nine hits in the game, six of them from the bats of Molly Booker, Lacy Weaver, and Ellis Woodruff, who each went 2 for 3.
In the late game on Friday, the Bulldogs took on the fourth ranked Oklahoma City University Stars under the lights of the main stadium at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex, where the NCAA College Softball World Series is held each year.
The Bulldogs and Stars met a couple of weeks ago with the Stars winning a lopsided game 9-0 in five innings. This time the game would go the distance but the outcome ended up being the same, this time a 3-0 victory for the Stars.
Raegan Kleppe got the start in the circle against the Stars, and pitched one of her best games of the year. She allowed three runs on eight hits, had two strikeouts and just one walk. Unfortunately the Stars pitchers were even better, combining for a no hitter against the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs were robbed of three hits in the game, two by spectacular plays by the Stars' defense, and one on a call from the umpiring crew.
On Saturday morning the Bulldogs were back on the diamond again at the stadium taking on the Oklahoma Panhandle State University Aggies. It was the third time the two squads had met this spring with each team winning one of the first two contests. On Saturday, the game went back and forth with two ties and two lead changes in eight innings played.
The Bulldogs opened with two runs in the top of the first inning on a two run home run from Brandy Trengove. The Aggies answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first then took the lead with two more in the bottom of the third. Trailing 4-2, the Bulldogs got one of the runs back in the top of the fourth then tied the game back up on a solo home run by Kaylie Norris, the first of her Bulldog career, in the top of the seventh. Tied at four, the game headed into extra innings where the international tie breaker was employed.
Adopted a number of years ago by the NAIA, the ITB starts each new half inning with the player who made the final out from the previous inning, on second base. The Bulldogs had first shot a breaking the tie, but were unable to score a run. In the bottom half of the eighth the Bulldogs recorded two outs, but a routine pop fly, that became less than routine with the windy conditions on Saturday, was dropped by the Bulldog defense, scoring the winning run from third base.
Johnson was in the circle again for the Bulldogs and collared the loss. She went the distance allowing five runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. Sierra Cortez led the Bulldog offense going 2 for 4 with a run scored.
The Bulldogs wrapped up the classic against the St. Mary of the Woods College Pomeroys with a similar result as their game with OPSU earlier in the day. The Bulldogs had to come from behind, forced extra innings, and ultimately falling by one run in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Pomeroys shut out the Bulldogs through four innings of play, and led 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning. In their half of the fifth, the Bulldogs finally found the score board, putting up two runs and tying the game.
This time as the game headed into extra innings, the Bulldogs were the home team and would have the final at bat. The Pomeroys were able to manufacture a run in the top of the eighth to lead 3-2. In their at bat, the Bulldogs found themselves with runners at first and third with two outs and Cortez, the speedy lefty slapper at the plate. She worked the at bat, fouling off several pitches until she finally got one she liked. She put the ball in play and raced to first. Unfortunately the Pomeroy short stop was able to field the ball cleanly and fire a perfect strike to the first baseman just a hair before Cortez touched the base.
Kleppe pitched another stellar game for the Bulldogs in the loss. She worked all eight innings, giving up three runs on eight hits, with eight strikeouts and two walks. The Bulldog offense recorded six hits, all of them from different hitters, and all of them singles.
After the four games this weekend, the Bulldogs are now 6-11 on the season. They are planning on being back in action next weekend at the MC Classic, scheduled to start on Friday, weather permitting.
