McPHERSON, Kan. — Makenzi Smithee had her best day as a member of the Bulldogs Saturday (Mar. 29), hitting two homers to help power McPherson College to a sweep over Southwestern College on Senior Day at Bulldog Park.
GAME ONE – McPherson 14, Southwestern 2
The Bulldogs came into the contest with just two home runs on the season, but you wouldn't know it watching this one. Melaney Granados opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a solo blast to dead center field, then Sidney Larrew scored on a throwing error after a single by Samantha Hollingsworth. Emily Peterson drew the start in left field and was excellent starting with an RBI double to drive in Hollingsworth.
A quick 1-2-3 inning by Hollingsworth in the top of the second kept the Builders off the board, and the Bulldogs went back to work as Smithee and Karisa Hernandez reached on a pair of errors. Savannah Robles made the most of it, launching a three-run shot to double the Bulldogs lead.
Not only did Hollingsworth excel in the batter's box, but was also lights out in the circle, holding the Moundbuilders to just three hits in the contest, all of them coming in the third inning. The Builders used a homer of their own, this one a two-run home run by Tiara Henry to put them on the board, but that momentum was short-lived.
Victoria Thornton got things started with an infield single then Kaitlyn Sarsfield drew a walk to set the stage for Smithee's first career home run, a three-run blast to left field.
MC wasn't done yet though, adding five more in the bottom of the fourth, doing it all with two outs.
Peterson singled before back-to-back doubles by Thornton and Sarsfield pushed the lead to 11-2. Smithee drew a walk, then scored on an RBI single by Hernandez.
The Bulldogs finished with 13 hits, led by Robles with a three-hit game. Peterson and Thornton each added a pair of base hits. Hollingsworth struck out three batters.
GAME TWO – McPherson 6, Southwestern 1
Runs were harder to come by in the first inning of the nightcap both hurlers were able to secure three up, three down innings.
The Moundbuilders had baserunners in the top of the second, loading the bases after a pair of walks and a single, but a groundout by Lainey Hardman kept them off the scoreboard.
MC broke through in the bottom half of the inning after a triple by Peterson drove in Ashanti Thompson. Peterson would score thanks to a sacrifice fly by Thornton in the very next at-bat.
Granados added one in the fourth, tripling to left field before scoring on a wild pitch.
Smithee's second homer of the afternoon came in the fifth inning, this one a three-run shot scoring Thornton and Sarsfield to push the Bulldogs lead to 6-1.
Thompson pitched a gem, going seven innings with just one run and five hits. She also finished with five strikeouts, including three in the top of the sixth inning.
Smithee and Larrew each finished with two hits apiece.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs hit the road for their next two series, traveling to North Newton to take on Bethel College Wednesday before making a trip to take on Avila on Saturday. First pitch against the Threshers is slated for 5:00 p.m.
