Great Bend, Kan. – The McPherson College softball team opened up day one of the KCAC softball tournament by posting a 2-0 record. The Bulldogs, seeded fourth in the bracket, started the day by taking down fifth seeded Kansas Wesleyan University 8-0 in five innings. Then they closed out the day by toppling top seeded Ottawa University 5-1.
Raegan Kleppe was in the circle for the Bulldogs in the opener. She pitched a four hit shutout in five innings of work. She finished with three strikeouts and just one walk as she improved her record on the year to 12-9 overall.
Offensively, the Bulldogs scored their eight runs on ten hits, led by multi-hit games from Lacy Weaver, Summer Garcia, and Nichole Martinez, who were all 2 for 3. Martinez and Weaver had the only extra base hits for the Bulldogs. Martinez' was a double, and Weaver a triple.
The Bulldogs' confidence was high as they headed into the rematch with the Ottawa Braves. Ottawa had won both of the regular season games, both in the final inning, so the Bulldogs were looking for a little redemption. They found it, beating the KCAC regular season champs, 5-1, behind a masterful pitching performance from freshman Jordyn Johnson, pitching in her first career postseason game.
Johnson went all seven innings, allowing one run on seven hits and finishing with seven strikeouts to just one walk. She got plenty of help from her offense which scored five runs on 12 hits. Weaver once again led the way for the Bulldogs, this time going 4 for 4, with four singles and two RBI. Mackenzie Egan and Amanda Ambrosy joined Weaver with multiple hits in the game, both going 2 for 4.
Coach Segovia commented on the Bulldogs' performance saying, "Very proud of the team effort today. We came out with lots of energy and that carried on through both games today! All phases of the game were good today. We will look to carry this on to tomorrow!"
The Bulldogs will play Friends University in the semi-finals on Saturday at 2:30. The Bulldogs and Falcons split the regular season games, down in Wichita.
