WICHITA, Kan. -- The Friends University Falcons got a walkoff homer by
Cambell Riordan to win the first game 8-7, but the McPherson College Bulldogs pulled out a 4-3 win in the second game to split the regular season finale today (Apr. 21) at Two Rivers Youth Complex.
The Falcons built a 6-2 lead in the opener, but McPherson mounted a late rally as a two-run double by Victoria Thornton capped a three-run sixth and they scored two more in the seventh to take the lead, getting a game-tying double by Sidney Larrew and then plating the go-ahead run on an error.
Down to their last out in the bottom half of the inning,
Madison Nightingale singled with two outs, setting the stage for Riordan, who launched a no-doubt two-run homer to center to give the Falcons the dramatic walkoff victory.
Earlier, the Falcons built the lead in the fifth frame. A walk to
Cadence Magana followed by
Ezra Arredondo's single put runners in scoring position, leading to a sacrifice fly by
Tamara Lozoya.
Regan Witt added another sacrifice fly, and
Raeleen Hernandez capped the inning with a two-run triple to extend the lead before the Bulldogs came back to take a late lead.
Arredondo posted three hits, including a double in the opening game win for the Falcons. Hernandez also collected three RBIs with a triple, while
Izzy Jones crossed the plate twice and recorded a stolen base.
Jenna Ormiston started for the Falcons and went 5.1 innings with four earned runs allowed.
Ainsley McGill followed and pitched the final 1.2 frames with one run allowed to be credited with the win.
Justice Large had two runs and two hits for the Bulldogs, with Larrew scoring three runs with two hits. Thornton also had two hits and a pair of RBIs.
With the Falcons clinging to a 3-2 lead in the second tilt, the Bulldogs produced two go-ahead tallies in the seventh inning, starting with a game-tying single by Thornton. A sacrifice fly by Andrea Solis then brought home the decisive run to put the Bulldogs in front.
Samantha Hollingsworth then retired the Falcons in order in the bottom of the seventh to close out the win for McPherson.
The Falcons had jumped on top in the second inning when Lozoya's single and subsequent stolen base set the stage for
Izzy Jones, who reached on an error that scored Lozoya.
After a two-run double by Larrew gave the Bulldogs a one-run lead in the top of the fifth, Riordan hit her second homer of the day to tie the score at 2–2 in the bottom of the frame.
Chloe Enslinger later contributed an RBI single in the sixth to put the Falcons back on top.
Lozoya was active on the bases in the nightcap, scoring twice and stealing a base along with two hits. Riordan and Enslinger also contributed two hits for Friends.
Hollingsworth pitched a complete game for the Bulldogs, allowing two earned runs over seven innings while striking out five. She also scored twice in the second game. Hailey Shubin led the Bulldogs with three hits and Maddie Ramirez had two hits.
The Falcons finish the regular season 27-18 overall and will enter next week's KCAC postseason tournament as the fifth seed with a 17-9 conference record. The postseason tourney is set to begin next Wednesday (Apr. 29) in Salina, Kan., with the Falcons unofficially set to face fourth-seeded Avila University in a first-round matchup.
