TC softball opens KCAC play

The Tabor College softball team went 0-4 in a set of road contests against Friends and McPherson before wintery conditions set in.

McPherson?The visiting Bluejays were on the short end of two lopsided scores against the Bulldogs, 8-1 and 13-1.

<p>Tabor opened the double-header by taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the game turned sharply on a scary play in the bottom of the third inning.<p>April Funk doubled and Clancey Kelley followed with a single, but Tabor was held hitless the rest of the way.<p>But defensive intensity kept the Bluejays in the game until Bulldogs infielder Leah Heide drilled a line drive single that caromed off of Tabor pitcher Kalie George?s chest.<p>?Kalie is a tough competitor,? coach Steve Berg said. ?She finished the game, but her injury limited her effectiveness.?<p>In the bottom of the sixth, McPherson scored six runs and put the game out of reach.<p>Fielding mistakes combined with another solid offensive effort by the Bulldogs in the second game. McPherson?s bats teamed up with Tabor miscues for seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.? <p>?McPherson opened up its hitting attack during the second game,? Berg said. ?Our usual steady defense committed five errors that led to unearned runs.?<p>Tabor was limited to two hits: a double by Kelley and the single by Aubrey Whitehorn.<p>Friends?The Falcons won the first game 9-1 and took the second by a 12-3 margin.<p>The Bluejays showed a little rust following spring break, and the Falcons didn?t.<p>Four runs in the first, plus two in the second and another in the third, put Tabor in a 7-0 hole. April Funk got the Bluejays on the board with a run in the top of the fourth.<p>Friends tallied single runs in both the fourth and sixth innings for an eight-run-rule win.<p>Funk, Danielle Goossen and Aubrey Whitehorn collected one hit apiece for Tabor.<p>The second game also began with Tabor behind the eight ball, trailing 4-0 after the first. Friends added eight more runs in the bottom of the third. <p>Tabor scored once in the fourth and twice in the fifth as Kirsten Krehbiel hit her first home run of the season. Goossen collected two more hits, including a double and an RBI.? <p>Funk, Danielle Brucks, and Whitehorn posted three more hits in the losing effort. <p>?We were starting to hit their pitcher after the third inning in the second game, but it was too little too late,? coach Steve Berg said. ?We need to keep focused and stay away from (allowing) the big inning.?<p>Coming?Tabor slid to 0-4 in conference play and sought its first wins of the 2007 season at home against Sterling on Tuesday evening. The team will travel to Lindsborg Saturday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Bethany College.

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