McPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson College Bulldogs dropped a pair of conference bouts Saturday (Mar. 16), falling to the Ottawa University Braves at Bulldog Park.
GAME ONE – Ottawa 17, McPherson 8
Offense came early and often in the opener, as the Braves used the longball to open up a 3-0 lead after the top of the first inning. After Katie Enneking drove in the first run of the game, Mallory Dunn pushed the lead with a two-run shot to left center.
But the Bulldogs answered and then some with a six-run bottom half. MC quickly loaded the bases thanks to the first three batters reaching safely, including a pair of walks. Alivia Lange put the first run on the board with a sacrifice fly, then Layla Towner pulled the Bulldogs within 3-2 with a single up the middle.
McPherson knotted the score, benefitting from an error by the Braves second baseman, then Sidney Larrew followed with a single up the middle to give the Bulldogs the 4-3 advantage.
However, the Bulldogs weren't done yet, when Mackenzie Birch laid down a perfect bunt to reach safely and load the bases once again. Savannah Robles drove in the final two runs with a single bringing Alexandrea Garcia and Larrew around to score.
But from there, the Braves once again took the lead, scoring runs in all but the fifth inning to come away with the win. MC added one in the third on thanks to an RBI by Robles, and one more in the fifth when Towner singled home Karisa Hernandez.
Larrew finished 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the Bulldogs, while driving in one run. Robles paced MC with three RBIs. Towner, Birch, and Madison Jarvis each had multi hit games.
GAME TWO – Ottawa 3, McPherson 2
The Braves looked to be on pace for a similar result in the nightcap, scoring two in the top of the first thanks to an RBI single by Addison Spencer and a sacrifice fly by Dunn.
But those would be the only runs scored by either side until Megan Kennedy homered to right field in the seventh inning.
MC had plenty of chances, stranding two in each of the first, third, and fourth innings before leaving the bases loaded in the sixth. The Bulldogs finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh. Melaney Granados drew a walk, then Towner moved her to second with an infield single.
Larrew cut into the Braves lead with a two-out double to left center, driving in pinch runners Kaitlyn Sarsfield and Makenzi Smithee, but the Bulldogs were unable to do any more damage than that.
Landri Lopez pitched another gem in game two, holding the Braves to just three runs on six hits with one strikeout.
Towner led the Bulldogs with three hits, while Victoria Thornton added two hits.
The Bulldogs hit the road Tuesday (Mar. 18) for a trip to Nebraska to take on York University. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
