Baseball | 2/16/2014 12:34:00 AM
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Shawnee, Okla. – A three-game, two-day weekend between McPherson College and Saint Gregory's University went the way of the Cavaliers as SGU won all three; 8-7 on Friday and 7-4, 6-5 on Saturday. Mac is still looking for their first win of 2014 as they sit at 0-7.
Game 1 –at Saint Gregory's– L 8-7 in 11 innings
Friday's contest was already scheduled to go longer than a typical outing but the two teams pushed it even further, playing 11 innings in the opening game of the weekend. The Bulldogs came out and scored one run in the second, third, fourth, and fifth innings but gave up two in the second and three in the third; they headed into the sixth trailing 5-4. Saint Gregory's took a 7-4 lead into the eighth as they scored one in each of the two previous innings. Mac fought right back and scored one in the eighth and two more in the ninth to force extra innings. After a scoreless 10th, the Cavs brought one in during the 11th inning to claim the day-one victory 8-7.
The 'Dogs tallied their seven runs on eight hits; Jose Nossa and Tom Potter each posted two knocks of the ball to lead the way. Potter and Dorian Shelton each crossed the plate twice while Austin Russell, Charles Boosa and Taylor Werts made it home safely once. Russell logged a team-high two RBI.
Nolan Huelsmann started the weekend at the mound for Mac; he pitched six innings, allowed six hits and six runs, four that were earned. Brant Rhoades entered at the start of the seventh and closed out the game, picking up his first loss of the season; he threw to 15 batters and recorded a pair of strikeouts to go along with his two earned runs.
Game 2 – at Saint Gregory's – L 7-4
In Saturday's first game, SGU got out to a quick start, posting three runs in the opening inning. McPherson would respond with one in each of the next three innings; they finished out the fourth trailing 6-3 after giving up one in the third and two in the fourth. The 'Dogs scored one more in the seventh but it was not near enough as they lost 7-4.
MC's four runs were scored on just three hits, coming from Nossa and Russell with Nossa tabbing two; Zach Wilson made it safely to first twice on walks. Seth Davenport, Boosa, Wilson and Nossa each went around the basses one time.
Werts threw for the first four innings, recording eight hits, six earned runs, and two walks in the 22 batters faced. Keegan Hays came in relief at the bottom of the fifth and finished off the contest; he allowed two hits and one earned run in his two innings of work.
Game 3 – at Saint Gregory's – L 6-5
Mac came out and scored in the opening inning of the final competition of the weekend as Wilson scored on a Nossa double. The Bulldogs allowed Saint Greg's a run in the bottom of the inning to tie things up. A string of scoreless innings were stopped when the Cavaliers scored five in the fourth; MC brought around one in the top of the fifth but trailed 6-2 heading into the seventh. A couple of walks to start off the inning put men on for the 'Dogs and Werts, pinch hitting, brought in Potter with a single to left. After a pitching change, Nossa crossed home on a wild throw, inching McPherson closer. Werts scored on a sacrifice hit but would be the final player to come across as Mac lost 6-5.
The bats were working much better for Bulldog baseball as they totaled eight hits. Nossa was the lone player to tab two hits and made it aboard twice via base on balls as well; he also had two RBI in the game and scored once. Potter led the team in runs scored with two.
Taking the mound for game three was Scott Hughes who went three and a third, surrendering all six of Saint Gregory's runs along with six hits. Josh Grant relieved Hughes in the fourth and threw for the final two innings; he gave up two hits in his 12 batters faced.
The 'Dogs are scheduled to be home for their next outing as they host Mid-America Christian University on Friday, February 21; start time for the double-header is 12:00 p.m. (CT) at Light Capital Diamonds in McPherson.
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