Baseball | 3/28/2013 10:23:00 AM
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
McPherson, Kan. – It was a tale of two different teams for McPherson on Wednesday night. The first Bulldog squad to show up had a difficult time putting any hits together and ultimately lost 3-2, giving Manhattan Christian their first victory of the season. The MC team that played game two completely obliterated the Crusaders 20-6, pushing Mac’s record to 5-20.
Game 1 – vs. Manhattan Christian College – L 3-2
Two and a half very quick scoreless innings brought McPherson’s Jose Nossa (Valencia, Venezuela) to the plate; he belted one to right-center and sent home Dorian Shelton (Kansas City, Mo.) for the game’s first run. MCC did their damage in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs on two hits and two errors committed by the ‘Dogs.
MC got two on in the bottom half of the inning with just one out but couldn’t bring in any runs. In the fifth, Nossa scored on a Taylor Werts (Mansfield, Texas) single inching Mac closer. Manhattan Christian went three up, three down in their half of the sixth and seventh giving the Bulldogs one more chance to get a run in.
With runners on second and third with one out, McPherson seemed to be in prime position. A well hit ball by Zach Wilson (Miliken, Colo.) was ripped down by the Crusader short stop, putting the pressure on the ‘Dogs next batter, Werts. A grounder to the first baseman ended the contest, giving Manhattan their first win of the 2013 season 3-2.
Nossa shined from the plate in the opening game, tallying three hits on four at bats. Five other Mac players put the ball in play, making up the Bulldogs’ eight hits. Wilson, Shelton and Nossa each logged a stolen base in the loss.
MCC only had five hits in their win, two coming from Aaron Lasley. Three different Crusaders recorded an RBI in the contest.
Izak Wherry (Derby, Kan.) started at the mound for McPherson and went three and two thirds innings, giving up all three runs, two earned; he struck out two and walked two others. Colter Streck (Woodland Park, Colo.) entered the game in relief and put away six of the eight batters he faced in his two and a third inning. Tyler Watie (Ulysses, Kan.) closed things up for MC, taking down all three players that came to the plate in the seventh.
Game 2 – vs. Manhattan Christian College – W 20-6
What a different game the second of the day was. After allowing one run in the top of the first, the ‘Dogs went off, scoring eight runs in the bottom half on the inning. Nossa and Wilson each crossed the plate on an error by the MCC pitcher to get things going. Brendan Miller (Taber, Alberta, Canada) hit a two-run shot over the left-center field fence, bringing home Werts, putting MC up 4-1 and prompting the Crusaders to go to their bullpen. Marcus Wilson (Wichita, Kan.), running for Victor Betancourt (Margarita Island, Venezuela) scored on a Nossa single and the next batter up, Z. Wilson, smashed a three-run double to the center field fence which brought around Keegan Bednasek (Topeka, Kan.), Shelton and Nossa.
With the score at 8-1, inning number two saw just three batters from each team making their way to the plate. The Crusaders put up two runs in the third inning, closing the gap but a five-run bottom half of the inning kept the Bulldog lead at a cushy distance. Josh Grant (Paris, Texas) was sent home thanks to Nossa and Bednasek crossed the plate on an error. Off of a Werts single, Shelton and Nossa each added a run to their total. After stealing a bag, Werts came home as Miller singled up the right side.
In the top of four, Manhattan Christian continued to fight and scored three more, showing 13-6 on the scoreboard. Mac went off again in the bottom half of the inning, determined to squash any hopes the Crusaders had left. Bednasek and Shelton headed back to the dugout after Z. Wilson singled to right center. Two batters later and Z. Wilson scored himself after Miller added another hit to his daily total. From here, MCC had a tough time throwing strikes and walked in Werts and Miller before a single by Grant scored Baker and M. Wilson, running for Betancourt again.
The fifth inning went three up, three down for both squads. MC brought in their subs in the sixth; the relievers allowed two hits but not one run the rest of the way, giving the Bulldogs their fifth win of the year, breaking the third-year of the program school record for most wins in a season.
The sticks were working splendidly for McPherson as they totaled 14 hits; Miller grabbed three himself while Nossa, Z. Wilson and Werts each tallied two. Five other ‘Dogs logged one positive knock of the ball. Z. Wilson led the team in RBI with five and was quickly followed by Miller who recorded four. Five stolen bases were taken by McPherson in their win.
The Crusaders hit the ball 10 times with James Floyd and Trey Shelton each logging three. Shelton and David Colip both recorded two RBI in the defeat.
Brant Rhoades (Burlington, Colo) pitched the first inning for Mac but was pulled before the second; he allowed one run while striking out one of the five batters he came up against. Jalen Davenport (Miliken, Colo.) pitched the second and third innings, surrendering two earned runs on four hits. Tyler Lambert (Vinita, Okla.) came in relief but was quickly taken out himself after walking the two Crusaders he faced. Watie entered and pitched two innings, giving up three unearned runs on two hits while striking out one. Corey Taylor (Iola, Kan.), making his McPherson College debut, closed out the game, throwing to eight players; he allowed two hits had one hit batter but didn’t allow a single run.
It’s a quick turnaround for McPherson baseball as they now host the Saint Mary Spires on March 28th at Light Capital Diamonds. Start time for the first game of the KCAC doubleheader is 2:00 p.m. (CT)
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