Hesston, Kan. – The Bulldogs were once again on the road on Thursday for a matchup with the Hesston College Larks. McPherson faced the Larks for the second time this year, looking to improve to 4-0 in the season series.
The Basics
Location: Bess Mullet Field
Records: MC 8-12 (KCAC 0-6), 2-22 (CAC 0-0)
Game One: MC 14, HC 5
Game One was all Bulldogs from the jump, as McPherson’s offense erupted for 14 runs in a five-inning run rule victory.
Layla Towner got the scoring started for McPherson, lining a single into left to bring Savannah Robles home. Samantha Hollingsworth followed it up with a double to plate another, giving McPherson a quick 2-0 edge.
Hesston answered in the bottom half, with Mia Manzo singling to center to make it a 2-1 game, but the Bulldogs kept the pressure on. McPherson added two more in the second on a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single, stretching the lead.
The bats stayed hot in the third, highlighted by Emma Puebla’s two-RBI single to push the advantage even further. The Larks managed to get one back in the bottom on the inning, but still trailed 6-2.
From there it was all McPherson. The Bulldogs poured on eight runs over the final two innings, including a six-run fifth inning fueled by three triples to break things wide open.
McPherson sealed the deal in the bottom of the fifth, recording the final three outs and ending the game early via the run rule with a 14-5 win.
Game Two: MC 9, HC 2
Game Two started with Hesston jumping out front, plating a pair of runs in the opening frame to grab an early 2-0 lead. But the Bulldogs didn’t wait long to respond.
McPherson flipped the momentum in the second inning, taking advantage of a Larks error followed by a double from Emma Puebla to get the offense rolling. The Bulldogs weren’t done there – before the inning came to a close, McPherson added four more runs behind doubles from Anna Salazar and Justice Large.
The pressure didn’t let up. McPherson continued to capitalize on Hesston miscues, stretching the lead to 8-2 after Hollingsworth reached on an error and later came around to score on another double from Large.
With control firmly in hand, the Bulldogs added one more run for good measure in the later innings, as Victoria Thornton crossed the plate on an RBI single from Salazar.
That would be more than enough, as McPherson closed out a 9-2 win to complete the doubleheader sweep in convincing fashion.
Up Next
McPherson will be back at Bulldogs Park Saturday to take on the Ottawa University Braves. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM.
