Softball Splits With Bulldogs

McPherson, Kan.- The University of Saint Mary Softball team traveled to play the McPherson Bulldogs in a doubleheader on Saturday, resulting in a 4-0 win and a 5-4 loss. The Spires are now 14-14 overall and 4-4 in conference play. 

Game One

Desarae Chavez started in the circle for Saint Mary in game one and was effective from the first pitch. Chavez threw all seven innings, giving up zero runs on three hits with three strikeouts. A throwing error in the top of the second allowed Alexis McDaniel and Audrey Spellman to score, giving Saint Mary a 2-0 lead. Later in the third inning, Sadie McWilliams drove in Jessica Strandlund with a single to extend the USM lead to three runs. Saint Mary got one more run across the board in the sixth inning after a ground out from Spellman drove in Gianna Paape to make it a 4-0 ball game. Chavez closed the door on the Bulldogs in the bottom half of the seventh, getting out of a bases-load jam to record her fifth win of the year. 

Game Two

McPherson jumped out to an early lead in the first inning of game two, driving in three runs. After a scoreless second inning, the Spires tied the game at three after a bases-clearing triple from Strandlund in the third. In the game's final frame, Megan Brinkman gave the Spires a 4-3 lead with an RBI double to right field. However, the Bulldogs rallied in the bottom half of the seventh, scoring two runs and winning 5-4 over Saint Mary. 

Up Next

The Spires will host Tabor College at 2 p.m. on Wednesday in Leavenworth, Kansas.