OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (MacBulldogs.com) — The McPherson College Bulldogs got back on the right track Saturday (Feb. 24) with a pair of convincing wins over Kansas Christian College in Overland Park, Kan. The Bulldogs took the first game 16-1, before completing the sweep with a 12-7 win.
GAME ONE – MC 16, KCC 1
Jordyn Johnson got the call in the circle in the opener and shined, allowing just two hits while striking out a pair of batters.
The Falcons struck first, scoring on an error in the bottom of the first inning. The Bulldogs leveled the score in the next half inning with an RBI double by Alexandrea Garcia, then secured the lead later in the inning.
An RBI double by Rowdy New brought Tatyana Alvarado around to score in the third inning to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead.
From there it was all McPherson, scoring four more in the fourth, and nine in the fifth to secure the run-rule victory.
The Bulldogs scored 16 runs on 12 hits, and benefitted from a pair of Falcon errors. Shey Storesund finished 2-for-3 at the plate in the opener, while Garcia went 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Alvarado added a pair of hits and three RBIs. Alyvia Quintana and New each finished with two hits, while New drove in three runs.
GAME TWO – MC 12, KCC 7
Runs were harder to come by in the early going of the nightcap. The Bulldogs were held to just one run over the first three innings, while the Falcons again scored one run in the bottom of the first.
The Bulldogs offense exploded in the fourth inning for four runs thanks to RBI singles by Alvarado and New. But the Falcons had an answer, using a five-run bottom of the fourth to take a 6-5 lead.
MC took the lead for good with three runs in the next half inning. A single down the left field line by Kaitlyn Sarsfield brought Samantha Hollingsworth around to score. Sarsfield scored later in the inning on an error by Trinitie Butler. New wrapped up the inning with an RBI single to centerfield.
The Bulldogs pushed their lead to 12-6 with four more in the seventh. MC loaded the bases to open the inning before New drove in a pair with a single to deep centerfield. Quintana reached on a fielder’s choice, bringing Alvarado in to score, then a sacrifice fly by Hollingsworth rounded out the inning, scoring Quintana.
New finished 4-for-5 with five RBIs to lead the Bulldogs.
Hollingsworth started game two in the circle and threw 3.1 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits. Ashanti Thompson came on in relief, and allowed just two hits, while striking out one batter.
The Bulldogs are back in action this weekend for the Red Dirt Classic in Oklahoma City, Okla. MC will play Mid-America Christian and Southwestern Assemblies of God on Friday (Mar. 1) before squaring off against Oklahoma Panhandle State and Langston on Saturday (Mar. 2).
