Baseball | 2/22/2014 7:06:00 PM
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
McPherson, Kan. – Bulldog baseball had a near come from behind victory in the opening game of their doubleheader with Mid-America Christian University on Saturday but lost 6-5 in eight innings. Mac came back with a vengeance in the second contest, blowing out the Evangels 11-2 for their first win of the season; MC is now 1-8 on the year.
Game 1 – vs. Mid-America Christian– L 6-5 in 8 innings
The first outing of the day started McPherson's way as they scored the first run in the bottom of the opening inning. MACU rebounded and scored two in the second and three in the third to go up 5-1 heading into the fourth inning. The Bulldogs didn't go away without a fight as they put four runs up on the board over the next three innings, tying things up at five apiece heading into the seventh. It was three up, three down for the Evangels, leaving the door open for Mac in the bottom half of the inning but the 'Dogs could not capitalize on the opportunity, forcing an extra inning. In the eighth, Mid-America Christian scored and McPherson left two stranded to give MACU the 6-5 victory.
The Bulldogs scored five runs on just four hits as they drew an impressive nine walks. Jordan Slaton (Dodge City, Kan.) made it aboard in all four of his at bats but did not record a hit, earning four base-on-balls. Zach Wilson (Miliken, Colo.) also got on safely via walks, drawing two and scoring both times he got on. Dorian Shelton (Kansas City, Mo.) led the team in hits with two; the senior scored once and recorded one RBI. Both Tom Potter (Dayton, Minn.) and Jose Nossa (Valencia, Venezuela) each logged a hit and a Run Batted In for McPherson.
Nolan Huelsmann (Goddard, Kan.) started things on the mound for Mac and threw for three innings before being relieved; he surrendered five runs off of six hits, two of the runs given up were unearned. Scott Hughes (Albuquerque, N.M.) came in relief and threw for the final five innings, giving him the loss; he tallied one earned run given up on one hit and two walks.
Game 2 – vs. Mid-America Christian – W 11-2
McPherson showed their home crowd how well they can play in second game as they put up six runs in the opening inning, forcing a pitching change by MACU and equaling their run total from the previous game. The 'Dogs put up one more in the third and four in the fourth for their 11 total; Mid-American Christian put two on the scoreboard in the top half of the fourth inning but no more the rest the way. Mac's nine-run victory was their first of the 2014 season and will hopefully be a launching point for the rest of the year.
Slaton continued his walking-streak as he got to first three times via a four-ball count and also logged one hit for a perfect 100% on-base percentage for the day. Three different Bulldogs tabulated two hits in Austin Russell (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada), Taylor Werts (Mansfield, Texas), and Shelton; Wilson got aboard three times, twice on walks and once with a hit. Seth Davenport (McPherson, Kan.) recorded just one hit but it was a three-run bomb to left field in the first inning; the three RBIs were a team-high.
Josh Grant (Paris, Texas) slid over from his shortstop position to pitch game two for the 'Dogs; he went for five innings, allowing the two runs, one being earned, on four hits and one walk. Werts moved from the DH slot to finish out the contest on the mound; the senior gave up three hits in his eight batters faced.
The Bulldog Classic is next up for McPherson as they host a three-team tournament; the 'Dogs will play both Central Christian College and Dakota State twice, once on each day of the February 28-March 1 tourney. First pitch of the classic for Mac is on Friday at 12:00 p.m. (CT) against the Tigers of Central Christian.
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