Baseball | 4/30/2013 10:54:00 PM
Box Score
Courtesy of the KCAC
Hutchinson, Kan. – #4 Friends University opened up the 2013 KCAC Baseball Championship Tournament with a 6-3 win over #5 McPherson College at Hobart-Detter Field in Hutchinson, Kan. on Tuesday night. The Falcons use a run in each of the first two innings and three runs in the third inning to fuel an early offensive attack in the win.
Both teams notched a run in the first inning. Friends scored on an Andrew Miller RBI double to down the right field line while McPherson answered with a Taylor Werts (Mansfield, Texas) RBI triple into deep left field.
After Friends's centerfielder AJ Borja scored on a Case Schweninger RBI single in the top of the second, Falcon starter Matt Elliot settled in on the mound. Elliot retired the next six of seven Bulldog hitters and did not allow another run until the bottom of the seventh inning.
Elliot finished his night going 6.2 innings and giving up three runs, all earned, on four hits with seven strikeouts and five walks.
The Falcons created separation from McPherson in the top of the third. Miller singled to start the inning and then advanced to third on a Dylan Fensky single. Troy Williams reached on a fielder's choice as Miller was thrown out trying to score. Michael Crandell followed Williams with another fielder's choice as Williams was forced out at second. Borja singled to left-center, scoring Fensky and sending Evan Gilbert, courtesy running for Borja, to third. Gilbert then scored on a Malone single. Borja scored the final run of the inning when Casey Schweninger reached on a McPherson error.
After the third inning, McPherson starter Nolan Huelsmann (Goddard, Kan.) kept Friends scoreless through the rest of his 5.0 inning outing. Huelsman finished his day giving up five runs, four earned, on 10 hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
McPherson would cut into the lead in the bottom of the seventh when both Dorian Shelton (Kansas City, Mo.) and Jose Nossa (Valencia, Venezuela) cored on a Zach Wilson (Miliken, Colo.) double down the leftfield line.
Friends would bring in Ryan Householder to finish the game. Householder would record the final out of the seventh inning and then hold McPherson scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings to end the game.
Eilliot picked up the win for Friends. Huelsmann recorded the loss for McPherson. Householder was credited with the save.
Friends (22-26, 12-16) will play #1 Tabor College (36-12, 24-4) tomorrow at 3:00 pm.
McPherson (20-28, 12-16) will play the loser of #2 Sterling College (42-12, 24-4) and #3 Bethany College (23-27, 13-15) tomorrow at 7:00 pm in the first elimination game of the tournament.
