MCPHERSON, Kan. – The Lady Bluejays kicked off their conference opener with a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader. After a successful weekend in Branson, Tabor aimed for a strong start in KCAC play as they made the short trip to face their Highway 56 rival, McPherson College.

Going into the contest, McPherson held a 4-8 overall record, splitting a series with Benedictine College just a few days earlier.  Tabor entered the contest with an overall record of 9-6 following a competitive weekend of games. 
 
GAME ONE: W 9-1
The game remained scoreless through the first three innings as both teams managed to put runners on base but failed to capitalize. McPherson broke the deadlock in the bottom of the third with a sacrifice fly by Alivia Lange, bringing a Bulldog across the plate for a 1-0 lead. 

However, Tabor responded in the fourth inning, capitalizing on a series of miscues and timely hitting. A hit-by-pitch and a bases-loaded walk tied the game before an error by McPherson's first baseman allowed two unearned runs to score. Lainee Rae Miller then delivered a two-run double, and Darcy Gillen followed with an RBI single, giving Tabor a commanding 7-1 lead.

In the fifth, Tabor added two more runs on a sacrifice fly and a bases-loaded walk to extend their lead to 9-1. McPherson struggled to generate any offense in the final frames, grounding into a double play to end the fifth inning. Tabor's strong fourth-inning rally and solid pitching secured them a dominant victory. The Bluejays finished game one with a score of 9-1, while Marisa Carranza took home the win for Tabor. 
 
GAME TWO: L 1-3
In the second game of the doubleheader, Tabor struggled to generate offense, ultimately falling to McPherson 3-1. Both teams were held scoreless through the first three innings, with Tabor managing just one hit while McPherson left multiple runners stranded. 

The breakthrough came in the fourth inning when McPherson took advantage of Tabor's miscues, scoring two runs—one on a pickoff play and another on a passed ball. Tabor continued to struggle at the plate, failing to bring runners home in key moments. 

McPherson added an unearned run in the fifth after a Tabor error, extending the lead to 3-0. In the seventh, Tabor finally got on the board when Reese Hefley doubled and later scored on a Kailey Cross single, but the rally was cut short. 

McPherson closed out the game, securing the 3-1 victory and earning a split in the doubleheader after Tabor's commanding 9-1 win in the first game. Madison Nelson and Annabelle Buchanan both stepped up to the mound in game two, with Nelson pitching 4.2 innings and Buchanan pitching 1.1 innings. 

Tabor's dominant performance in the first game highlighted their offensive potential, while McPherson's resilience in the second game evened the series. As the season progresses, the Lady Bluejays will look to build on their performances and refine their strategies for future matchups.

Tabor will be back in action on their home field against Southwestern College on Sunday afternoon to face the Moundbuilders in their second KCAC matchup of the season. The Bluejays will enter the doubleheader with an overall record of 10-7 and a KCAC record of 1-1. The Moundbuilders will enter with an overall record of 5-5 and a conference record of 0-2. 

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Tabor College is a Christ-centered institution located in Hillsboro, Kansas. The Bluejays are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC).