OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (MacBulldogs.com) — The McPherson College Bulldogs traveled to Oklahoma City this weekend for the Hosea Bell Red Dirt Classic, but fell in the doubleheader on Friday before sweeping the day Saturday.
GAME ONE – MACU 13, MC 3
The Bulldogs kept things close against Mid-America Christian early on, striking first in the bottom of the second. But a pair of unanswered runs by the Evangels in the next half inning made it a 2-1 MACU lead.
Alexandrea Garcia leveled the score with her first home run of the season in the fourth, but from there the Evangels blew the game wide open with six-consecutive runs, five coming in the top of the fifth.
MC loaded the bases in the sixth, but were only able to scratch across one run when Karisa Hernandez drew a walk. The Evangels added five more runs in the top of the seventh.
Garcia led the way for the Bulldogs, finishing 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and three runs scored. Rowdy New added a pair of hits.
Jordyn Johnson threw 4.2 innings with five strikeouts, while allowing six runs on five hits.
GAME TWO – SAGU 7, MC 4
In the nightcap, the Bulldogs once again grabbed an early lead after a sacrifice fly by Andrea Solis scored Garcia.
But the Lions scored seven unanswered runs, four coming in the top of the third to take a 7-1 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
The Bulldogs showed some fight, after a single by Shey Storesund and a double by Megan Wright put a pair of runners in scoring position. An RBI single by Solis made it a 7-2 deficit, then Alyvia Lange singled up the middle to score two more.
But that would be all that the Bulldogs could muster.
New and Garcia each finished with two hits apiece, while Solis and Lange each drove in a pair of runs.
GAME THREE – MC 7, OPSU 0
The Bulldogs got into the win column for the first time of the weekend, thanks to a pitching gem by Johnson. She finished with eight strikeouts, while allowing just three hits in seven scoreless innings of work.
MC quickly loaded the bases in the top of the first inning before Wright drew a walk to put MC on top early. This time the Bulldogs would hang on, scoring again in the second inning, after a bunt single by Kaitlyn Sarsfield brought Solis around to score.
A single by New led off the third inning before coming around to score on a double by Alyvia Quintana to put MC on top 3-0.
Garcia finished off the scoring in the fourth with a grand slam to right field, her second homer of the weekend.
GAME FOUR – MC 11, LU 1
MC continued the common theme in the weekend finale, scoring first on an RBI double down the left field line by Quintana. But Langston evened the score in the next half inning.
But from there, the Bulldogs offense exploded for ten unanswered runs. Garcia reached on an error in the third inning, scoring Hernandez, then Storesund scored on a wild pitch in the fourth.
Lange drove in New in the fifth with an RBI single through the left side, before a sacrifice fly by Storesund scored Garcia. Quintana closed out the three-run fifth inning, making it a 6-1 Bulldog lead.
MC added four more in the seventh thanks to RBI singles by Hernandez and Garcia, and an RBI double by New.
The Bulldogs scored 11 runs on 12 hits, and benefitted from four Lion errors. New led the way with three hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Hernandez added two hits, an RBI, and a run scored. Lange finished 2-for-2. Tatyana Alvarado, Garcia, Quintana, and Sarsfield each stole one bag.
Samantha Hollingsworth threw seven innings, while allowing just one run on three hits and striking out four batters.
The Bulldogs are back at Bulldog Park on Saturday (Mar. 9) for a doubleheader against College of Saint Mary. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.
