Great Bend, Kan. – The McPherson College softball team's Cinderella run at the KCAC conference tournament came to an end on Sunday afternoon, losing twice to the Friends University Falcons, and finishing as the tournament runner-up.
The Bulldogs came into Sunday 3-0 including a win over the Falcons in the semi-finals. The Falcons needed to beat the Bulldogs twice to win the tournament and claim the KCAC's second automatic bid to the NAIA national tournament, the Bulldogs needed to just win one of the two games.
In the first game, the Bulldogs got off to a disastrous start, with an error on the first play of the game that ultimately led to three runs in the top of the first by the Falcons. The Bulldogs got on the board in the bottom of the first when Mackenzie Egan scored on a double from Lacy Weaver. The Falcons added two more in the top of the fourth to make it 5-1 and then the Bulldogs added their second run in the bottom of the fifth when Weaver drove in Egan again. Unfortunately the Bulldogs were unable to crack the scoreboard again and the Falcons took game 1, 5-2.
Jordyn Johnson was in the circle for the Bulldogs and picked up the loss. She worked all seven innings, giving up five runs on seven hits and had one strikeout and three walks.
The winner take all game two was a pitcher's duel. Raegan Kleppe was in the circle for the Bulldogs giving up just one run and scattering four hits. Unfortunately her counterpart for the Falcons was a little better. She held the Bulldogs scoreless and gave up just two hits.
The two Bulldogs hits were singles by Brandy Trengove, and Alex Garcia.
The game was scoreless through the first two innings and a half innings, but then in the bottom of the third, the Falcons broke the scoreless tie on an RBI single with two outs. It would be enough for the Falcons as they would go on to hold off the Bulldogs with a 1-0 win to take home the tournament crown.
The loss would end the season for the Bulldogs leaving them at 26-22 on the year. It would also close out the career of one of the top coaches in the NAIA, Bulldog head coach Tony Segovia. He will leave the game and transition into a role in administration having won 550 game over the course of 18 seasons.
He commented on the loss saying, "Not the way we wanted the season to end but so proud of this team. They fought till the end and that's all we can ask for as coaches. We thank the seniors for all they have done for this program. They will do great things in life. We thank all our supporters throughout the whole season. Thanks to all these players this year and all our alums. All our assistant coaches have done a tremendous job this year and can't thank them enough. Thanks to our administration, staff, faculty, SID, and trainer for all the support."
