McPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson College Bulldogs erased an 8-0 deficit over the final three innings of game two to secure a split with the Bethel College Threshers Wednesday (Apr. 3) at Bulldog Park.
GAME ONE – Bethel 14, McPherson 5
The Threshers scored early and often in the opener, plating two in the first, and three more in the second to take a 5-0 lead.
MC got on the board in the bottom of the second inning Andrea Solis reached on an error, allowing Melanie Granados to score, but the Threshers added one more in the third before scoring four in the fourth to open up a 10-1 advantage.
The Bulldogs responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth. Solis got the inning going with an RBI single to left field, scoring Granados, then an RBI double by Jasmine Montoya brought Solis and Kaitlyn Sarsfield around to score. Rowdy New rounded out the scoring with a single through the left side, scoring Montoya.
But from there, it was all Threshers, adding two more in the fifth, and a pair in the seventh.
The Bulldogs scored five runs on as many hits, but struck out 12 times. Montoya finished with two RBIs to lead the way.
GAME TWO – McPherson 11, Bethel 8
Bethel kept their momentum going into the nightcap, scoring eight runs over the first five innings.
But down to their last three outs before a run-rule, the Bulldogs rattled off 11 runs to grab the win.
Tatyana Alvarado sparked the comeback with an inside the park home run, scoring Solis and Sarsfield, then Alexandrea Garcia kept the inning going with an RBI single to right field. Samantha Hollingsworth finished off the five-run fifth inning with an infield single, scoring Garcia.
Rowdy New singled to left field, bringing Solis in to score and pulling the Bulldogs within 8-6, then Granados drove in two more with an RBI single to right field, knotting the score at 8-8.
Victoria Thornton kept the big inning going, reaching on an error, allowing Granados and Alyvia Lange to score, then Solis reached on a fielder's choice, driving in Hollingsworth and putting the Bulldogs on top 11-8.
Hollingsworth retired the Threshers in order in the seventh to complete the comeback win.
Garcia finished game two with a perfect 4-for-4 performance at the plate, while driving in one run. Alvarado had a team-high three RBIs.
The Bulldogs remain at Bulldog Park for a showdown with (RV) Avila University on Saturday (Apr. 6). First pitch is slated for 12:00 p.m.
