Baseball | 3/7/2012 7:35:00 PM
Box Score
Box Score
McPherson, Kan. – McPherson baseball got its first win against Central Christian on March 2nd and have won ever since, pushing their winning streak to three after defeating Dakota State 7-6 in a thrilling nine inning contest.
After being up 6-3 heading into the top of the ninth, the Bulldogs allowed three runs to tie it up at six on four hits and one error. In the bottom of the ninth, Trey DeRouen (Abbeville, La.), walked and reached third on a throwing error by DSU’s pitcher. McPherson’s next batter, Jordan Slaton (Dodge City, Kan.), took a few pitches before knocking one into shallow right-center, bringing in the game’s winning run.
Senior Curt Compagnone (Salina, Kan.) got the starting nod for the Wednesday evening matchup and nearly produced a complete game; he lasted until one out into the top of the ninth before being relieved by Taylor Werts (Mansfield, Texas). Compagnone surrendered four runs, three earned, off of seven hits including one homerun in his eight and a third innings. He recorded four strikeouts, two groundouts and 10 fly outs. In relief, Werts allowed two unearned runs and four hits in his seven batters faced.
MC got hits in nearly every inning but never more than a couple until the seventh inning when they recorded five. The team charted 10 hits on the day, all of them being singles. Slaton and Victorjose Betancourt (Margarita Island, Venezuela) led the team with two apiece; Slaton had two RBIs as well. Dorian Shelton (Kansas City, Mo.) also had a good day, getting on base four out of his five at bats with three walks and a single.
Dakota State needed to use three pitchers to try and contain the Bulldogs. Josh Caven was the first one out to the mound for the Trojans and lasted four and two thirds innings, giving up four before Seth Doxey came in to replace him in the fifth. Doxey tallied three strikeouts and two earned runs in his three and a third stint. Jason Hershfield was sent to the mound to start the ninth inning for DSU but could only get one out before Slaton’s game-winning single shot to right-center.
The Trojans put the ball into play 11 times in the contest including two doubles and an Anyelo Roman homerun in the fourth. Ryan Steffensen led his team in hits with three, one of which was a double; he also had two RBIs and two runs scored.
The McPherson College Bulldogs are now set to travel to Texas where they will play, for the second time in five days, Robert Morris University on March 11th before coming back to McPherson to start conference play with Sterling on March 16th.
