HESSTON, Kan. — The Hesston College softball team dropped both games of a home doubleheader to McPherson College on Wednesday afternoon, falling 10–0 in the opener and 9–5 in game 2.
Game 1 – McPherson 10, Hesston 0
The first game remained scoreless through two innings before McPherson broke through in the third. After a leadoff single and an error allowed a runner to reach third, a sacrifice bunt brought home the first run of the game to give the Bulldogs a 1–0 lead.
McPherson extended the lead in the fourth inning with a five-run rally. Consecutive singles loaded the bases before a two-RBI single pushed the margin to 3–0. Another base hit plated a run, and a two-run single later in the inning capped the surge to make it 6–0.
The Bulldogs added insurance in the seventh. A leadoff double and a walk set up the scoring chance before an RBI groundout brought home another run. McPherson then took advantage of two Hesston errors and a run-scoring single to plate four more and secure the 10–0 victory.
Hesston managed just one hit in the game, a single by Chloe Merjil in the second inning. Bailey Symons started in the circle for the Larks, allowing 10 runs on 10 hits over 6.2 innings, with Moriah Ortiz recording the final out in relief.
Game 2 – McPherson 9, Hesston 5
McPherson again struck early in the second game. After reaching on an error to open the game, the Bulldogs scored on an RBI single and another run-scoring hit to take a 2–0 lead.
Hesston answered in the bottom half of the inning. Corlyn McGaha walked to begin the frame and advanced around the bases before Gabriella Pantoja reached on an error and stole third. Alexis Newlin followed with a bunt single to drive in the Larks' first run and cut the deficit to 2–1.
The Bulldogs pulled away in the middle innings. McPherson added two runs in the third and three more in the fourth, using a triple, a double and several timely singles to stretch the lead to 7–1. Another run in the fifth and a sacrifice fly in the sixth pushed the margin to 9–1.
Hesston mounted a rally in the sixth inning. Chloe Merjil singled and Jezel Sisneros was hit by a pitch to put two on. Maddie Kulmala worked a walk to load the bases before Pantoja drew a bases-loaded walk to score a run. Newlin then delivered an RBI single, and two more runs crossed on a fielding error to trim the deficit to 9–5.
The Larks were unable to continue the rally in the seventh, as McPherson closed out the game to secure the sweep.
Newlin led the Larks offensively with two hits and two RBIs, while Merjil added two hits. Gabriella Pantoja scored twice and drove in a run during the sixth-inning rally.
Hesston will look to bounce back Tuesday, March 10, when the Larks host Central Christian College.
