The Briar Cliff softball team picked up two wins on day one of the McPherson Classic Friday in McPherson, Kansas. The Charger pitchers, Maddi Duncan and Katelyn Kotlarz combined for 18 strikeouts and only one earned run in a pair of complete games.
 
"Our team came out very strong today. Our pitchers executed the plan beautifully and our offense really stepped up in big moments," said head coach Erin Bly. "Callie Billings had a great day for us offensively and Aubrey Chichurka was clutch both on offense and defense. Great team wins."
 
Billings was a perfect 6-for-6 at the plate, scored two runs, stole two bases and drove in one RBI across the two games.
 
Game 1 vs McPherson – W, 2-0
Both teams left a runner on base in the first inning, and the Chargers would break the 0-0 tie in the top of the fourth. Callie Billings led off the inning with a single to left field and would move to third after an Aubrey Chichurka single and Kylee Lukes sac bunt. Kennedy Andersen drove in the game winning run, scoring Billings on a groundout to second base.
 
Billings would drive in the Chargers second run in the fifth, this time doubling to left field to score Kieya Belmont.

The Bulldogs threatened in the bottom of the sixth, advancing runners to second and third with two outs. Duncan escaped the innings without allowing a run by forcing a fly out to right field. Duncan closed the door in the seventh inning and recorded her fifth complete game of the season. She allowed two hits, walked three and struck out six. Duncan improves to 7-1 on the season. She holds a 1.54 ERA and has 80 strikeouts.
 
Billings was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with one run and one RBI. Karis Gifford tallied one stolen base.
 
Game 2 vs Evangel – W, 3-1
Kotlarz carried Duncan's momentum in the pitcher's circle into their second game of the day, as she pitched a complete game with 12 strikeouts. She allowed just one run, but the BC bats came through with three runs.
 
Looking to secure an early lead, the Chargers loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning. The Valor, however, were able to force a ground out to keep BC scoreless.
 
Evangel tallied the first run, scoring in the top of the third. The Valor managed runners on second and third, and a ground out to the shortstop plated the runner on third.
 
Aggressiveness on the base paths for the Blue and Gold paid off in the bottom of the third. Gifford led off the inning with a single, and proceed to steal second base. Billings followed with a single, which moved Gifford to third, and then would swipe second base herself. Chichurka brought both runners home with a double to left center, giving BC a 2-1 lead. She would later score the third run of the inning on an error by the first basemen on a Kenadee Loew single.
 
Kotlarz closed out the win by striking out five of the last six outs to preserve the 3-1 victory. She moves to 5-3 on the season.
 
Billings went 3-for-3 with one run and two stolen bases, while Chichurka went 1-for-1 with two RBIs.
 
The Chargers return to action tomorrow morning for two more games at the McPherson Classic. BC faces Baker at 11:15 a.m. and then matchup with Bethany at 1:30 p.m.