Branson, Mis. – McPherson College Softball opened their 2026 season at the Branson B-A-S-H Classic where they would go 3-1, their best start in over a decade. This was the first opportunity for the Bulldogs to set the tone for the year under new leadership in first-year head coach Kristen Silva.
Friday February 6th
Score: McPherson 11, Stephens 2
The Bulldogs opened the Branson B-A-S-H Classic with a dominate victory over Stephens College. Savannah Robles put McPherson on the board in the first inning, reaching base on an error by the Stars’ third baseman before scoring following a second Stephens miscue. McPherson extended its lead to 3-0 in the top of the third as Mackenzie Birch and Robles each stole home.
McPherson added three more runs in the fourth inning, while Stephens answered with a run of their own to make it 6-1. Another big inning followed in the sixth, when McPherson erupted for six runs on three hits, three walks, and two hit batters. Stephens pushed across a second run in the bottom half of the inning, but the Bulldogs cruised to an 11-2 win to open the tournament.
Score: McPherson 8, Graceland 7
Game two of the Branson B-A-S-H Classic delivered a nine-inning thriller against the Yellowjackets of Graceland University. Graceland struck first in the opening inning, plating one run, but the Bulldogs answered immediately in the bottom half as Birch scored on an RBI single from Andrea Solis. McPherson took its first lead of the game in the second inning, capitalizing on an error by the Yellowjackets’ first baseman to score two runs and go up 3-1. Another Graceland miscue allowed Sophia Walters to cross the plate, extending the Bulldogs’ advantage to three runs.
The Yellowjackets broke through against McPherson pitching in the top of the fifth when Makenzie Leake delivered a two-out double to center field, driving in two uns. Graceland tied the game an inning later on an RBI single from Alyssa Good, making it 4-4. The Bulldogs briefly reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth, but Graceland responded once again to force extra innings with the game knotted at five. Both teams traded runs in the eighth before McPherson finally pulled ahead for the eventual win in the ninth. Landri Lopez hit a walk-off single to seal the victory for the Bulldogs. In addition to delivering the game-winning hit, Lopez also pitched seven innings, recording 12 strikeouts.
Saturday February 7th
Score: McPherson 6, Crowley’s Ridge 1
McPherson jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the third game of the Branson B-A-S-H Classic, scoring off of defensive miscues by the Pioneers. The Bulldogs added to their advantage in the second inning when Justice Large launched a two-run home run over the center-field fence, pushing the lead to 4-0.
Birch drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth to make it 5-0, and McPherson capped their scoring in the fifth inning when a bases-loaded walk brought Sidney Larrew home. The Pioneers broke up the shutout with a run in the sixth, but the Bulldogs closed out the ballgame to secure a 6-1 win.
Score: McPherson 0, Central Methodist 8
The Bulldogs closed out an action-packed weekend with a matchup against the Central Methodist Eagles. After combining for 25 runs over the previous three games, McPherson was held scoreless by Central Methodist. The Eagles jumped out to an early lead with four runs in the first inning and added another in the second to go ahead 5-0.
Zoey Christensen recorded the Bulldogs’ second and final hit of the game but was left stranded. Central Methodist put the game out of reach with two runs in the fourth and added an eighth run in the fifth to end the game early.
Up Next
McPherson returns to Bulldog Park this weekend, opening their home schedule Saturday against Morningside University before hosting Hastings College on Sunday. First pitch for both games is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
