NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — For the second consecutive series, the McPherson College Bulldogs swept the doubleheader series Wednesday (Apr. 2), needing extra innings in game one to knock off Bethel before taking care of business in game two in North Newton.
GAME ONE – McPherson 11, Bethel 10 (8 innings)
The Bulldogs raced out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, thanks to an RBI single by Sidney Larrew and an RBI by Layla Towner.
MC continued that momentum in the second inning, quickly loading the bases thanks to an error and base hits by Kaitlyn Sarsfield and Savannah Robles. A double to left field by Karisa Hernandez nearly cleared the bases, scoring Samantha Hollingsworth and Sarsfield to make it a 4-0 Bulldog lead. But the Bulldogs weren't done yet, when Melaney Granados put one in play, allowing Robles to score on the throw, then Hernandez scored thanks to an error by the Thresher's catcher.
The Bulldogs 6-0 lead was short-lived however, as the Threshers scored six runs in the bottom of the third, then taking the lead with an RBI single by Ashleigh Bodine.
Granados tripled to lead off the top of the fifth then scored on a sacrifice fly by Larrew to knot the score at 7-7, but again the Threshers had an answer regaining the lead with a pair in the bottom of the inning.
The comeback was on in the sixth, as the Bulldogs cut the deficit in half with an RBI single by Hernandez, before again tying the score in the top of the seventh, thanks to Larrew's third homer of the season.
Madison Jarvis was able to overcome a one-out single by Bodine to send the game into extra innings. Robles got the eighth started with an RBI triple to centerfield, scoring Alexandrea Garcia. Robles then scored thanks to an error by the Thresher's third baseman to make it an 11-9 MC lead.
The Threshers managed to score one in the bottom of the eighth, but Jarvis limited them to just that to pick up the win.
The top of the Bulldogs order was outstanding with Hernandez finishing with a three-hit game, while Robles, Granados, and Larrew each finished with two hits apiece. The four of them combined for seven RBIs.
GAME TWO – McPherson 5, Bethel 4
Runs were harder to come by early in the nightcap. The Bulldogs finally broke through in the third inning thanks to an RBI single by Granados to score Hernandez who reached via a walk.
That lead was short-lived though as the Threshers matched in the next half inning, tying the score at 1-1.
MC kept things going in the fourth when Ashanti Thompson reached on a leadoff single then scored on an RBI single by Robles. Later in the inning, Hernandez doubled home Robles to push the Bulldogs lead to 3-1.
Again, the Threshers had an answer in the next half inning, when Kaylee Linnebur singled to score Reese McCord.
The Bulldogs were held off the scoreboard over the next two innings, while the Threshers added two in the fifth to take a 4-3 edge heading into the final frame.
Down to their last three outs, back-to-back triples by Larrew and Alivia Lange leveled the score, and had the go-ahead run 60 feet from the plate. A single by Landri Lopez, who came on to pitch and hit for Thompson, pushed across the run to hand the Bulldogs the 5-4 lead. However, that would be all that MC would get in the seventh.
Lopez finished off the game with a quick inning including striking out leadoff batter Kailey Sandoval. She threw just 2.1 innings but was very effective, allowing just two base runners, while fanning two.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs remain on the road Sunday (Apr. 6) for a trip to Kansas City to take on Avila University. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
