Springfield, Mo. – After back-to-back homestands, McPherson hit the road for a tough test against the nationally ranked Evangel University Valor. Evangel entered the matchup with a perfect record in KCAC play at 10-0, while McPherson still looked to build momentum with just one conference win.
The Basics
Location: University Softball Field
Records: MC 9-17 (KCAC 1-11), EU 28-4 (KCAC 10-0)
Game One: MC 0, EU 5
Game One of the doubleheader got off to a slow start, with just a single hit from Evangel through the first two innings. McPherson broke into the hit column in the top of the third when Sidney Larrew lined. Single to right center, but the Bulldogs couldn’t build on it and left her on base.
Evangel took advantage in the bottom of the inning, scoring on an RBI single up the middle from Naomi Perkins that brought Danielle Cutbirth home to make it 1-0.
The Valor created some separation in the fourth, putting together a four-run inning to extend their lead to 5-0. Audrey Carlton sparked the rally with an inning opening triple and later scored on a sacrifice bunt from Karli Facklam. Back-to-back singles from Chloe Krans and Cutbirth added two more runs, and Kenna Mayfield capped the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly.
McPherson would be unable to find an answer, picking up just one more hit in the sixth. Meanwhile, the Valor would be held scoreless the rest of the way but had already done enough, securing a 5-0 win in Game One.
Game Two: MC 2, EU 10
Evangel got out to an early lead in the final game of the doubleheader, taking a 1-0 lead on a passed ball in the opening inning. The Bulldogs found an answer in the third, capitalizing on a Valor error that allowed Savannah Robles to come home and even things up at 1-1.
McPherson grabbed their first lead of the day in the following inning, as Samantha Hollingsworth launched a solo shot over the left field wall to make it 2-1.
That lead, however, didn’t last long. Evangel erupted in the bottom of the fourth, putting up eight runs to swing the momentum. Facklam brought Lauren Dill home on a bunt to open the scoring before four straight hits quickly stretched the lead to 6-2. Natalie Morgan delivered the biggest blow of the inning, sending a three-run homer to left center to push the advantage to 9-2.
The Valor carried that momentum into the fifth, where they plated one more run on a sacrifice bunt by Kaylee Dolores to trigger the run rule and seal a 10-2 win.
