[Softball] Spracklen ties career-high strikeout total in Softball Falcons' split with McPherson

WICHITA, Kan. – Laila Spracklen (JR/San Diego, Calif. ) struck out a career-high tying 11 batters in a seven-inning complete game victory in the Friends University Falcons' 6-3 win in the opening game over the McPherson College Bulldogs today (Mar. 31) at Two Rivers Youth Complex. The Bulldogs then won the second tilt 7-5 to force a split in the series.

Spracklen was tagged with just one earned run in going the distance and got help from a variety of offensive contributors, including herself by smacking her fourth homer of the season in the second inning that followed a solo homer by Jennifer Garcia (SO/Sylamar, Calif. ).

Following an RBI double by Brandy Trengove that cut the lead in half in the third, Meghan Low (SR/Collinsville, Okla.) unloaded a three-run double in the fourth before Vanessa Sigala (SO/Carson, Calif. ) launched her first career homer in the fifth inning that gave the Falcons a comfortable five-run lead.

The Bulldogs made noise in the sixth, getting a two-run double by Nichole Martinez to come within three runs. 

But with the bases loaded, Spracklen wiggled out of the jam by inducing a fly out and then retired the Bulldogs in order in the seventh to preserve the victory.

The Bulldogs wasted no time taking control of the nightcap as Mackenzie Egan hit a three-run homer in the first inning.

A sacrifice fly by Garcia in the bottom of the inning and Taylor Witter (FR/Perry, Okla. )'s second career home run in the second pulled the Falcons within a run, but a two-run blast by Trengove gave the Bulldogs their three-run lead back.

With the deficit at 6-2, the Falcons went to work when Witter singled home pinch runner Mahalie Owens (SO/Limon, Colo. ) to start a three-run sixth inning. Pinch hitter Becca Dunn (FR/Jurupa Valley, Calif. ) also drew a bases-loaded walk and Low was hit by a pitch to bring home pinch runner Tate Tilley-Bedick (JR/Cashion, Okla. ) to make it a one-run game.

Raegan Kleppe then got a strikeout to strand the bases loaded and Trengove hit her second homer of the game to push the lead to two runs.

Kleppe would then strand the tying runs on base in the seventh to close out the Bulldogs' win and pick up the save.

Witter and Aleigha Gale (SO/Winfield, Kan. ) each went 2-of-4 at the plate in the second game for the Falcons (12-15, 5-5 KCAC), while Trengove was a perfect 4-of-4 with her two homers for McPherson (14-15, 6-4 KCAC).

The Falcons will next be at Bethel College Saturday afternoon (Apr. 2) starting at 1 pm in North Newton, Kan.