McPHERSON, Kan. (MacBulldogs.com) — The McPherson College Bulldogs split with the Sterling College Warriors before picking up their first KCAC sweep of the season over Southwestern in Winfield.
GAME ONE – McPherson 5, Sterling 2
The Warriors took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but from there the Bulldogs scored five unanswered runs.
Kaitlyn Sarsfield put the Bulldogs on the board in the third inning with a double to right field, bringing Alyvia Quintana and Rowdy New in to score. Then Hannah Wagner followed with a double to centerfield, scoring Sarsfield.
An RBI single by New pushed the Bulldogs lead to 4-1 in the fourth, then Megan Wright drew a walk with the bases loaded to round out the scoring for MC.
Sterling added one in the fifth, but three strikeouts over the final two inning by Jordyn Johnson helped keep the Warriors at bay.
Johnson finished with nine strikeouts in seven innings of work, while allowing just five hits and one earned run.
New and Wagner each finished with three hits apiece, while Sarsfield led the way with two RBIs.
GAME TWO – Sterling 7, McPherson 0
Errors plagued the Bulldogs in the nightcap against Sterling, as five errors by MC led to seven runs for the Warriors. Sterling had just five hits in game two.
SC scored one in the second, five in the third, and one more in the fourth to take the 7-0 lead.
Allie Olivarria held the Bulldogs to just two hits, while finishing with six strikeouts.
Tatyana Alvarado and Ashanti Thompson were the lone Bulldogs to record a hit.
GAME THREE – McPherson 13, Southwestern 1
The Bulldogs’ bats were hot in game one on Saturday against Southwestern, scoring six runs in the first inning. Alexandrea Garcia got things started with an RBI single, scoring a pair of runs, then Wagner drew a walk with the bases loaded to push the lead to 3-0.
Back-to-Back singles by Andrea Solis and Jasmine Montoya drove in one and two runs respectively, making it a 6-0 lead after the top of the first.
MC pushed its lead to 9-0 after the second, thanks to an RBI single by Wagner, and a sacrifice fly by Solis.
Four more runs in the third made it a 13-0 Bulldog lead, when Melany Granados doubled down the left field line, bringing Garcia and New in to score, then an RBI single by Solis brought Granados and Wright around to score.
Johnson got the start in game one Saturday, throwing five innings with three strikeouts.
The Bulldogs finished with 12 hits, led by Garcia with three hits. Solis drove in four runs, while Wagner finished with three RBIs.
GAME FOUR – McPherson 5, Southwestern 0
Runs were slightly harder to come by in the night cap, scoring five runs on eight hits. Alyvia Lange put the Bulldogs on the board in the first inning with an RBI single to second base.
Alvarado doubled to centerfield in the second bringing Sarsfield and Solis, pushing the Bulldogs lead to 3-0. Lange rounded out the scoring in the fifth with a double that allowed Alvarado and Sarsfield to score.
Alvarado finished with three hits and two RBIs, while Lange added two hits and three RBIs.
The Bulldogs return to Bulldog Park Wednesday (Apr. 3) to host Bethel College. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m.
