McPherson, Kan. – McPherson baseball started conference play up again this weekend as they took on the Ottawa University Braves. The series contained a pair of close games and a pair of blowouts, all four ending in losses for the Bulldogs.
Friday, Game 1 – 20-4 Ottawa
The opening game of the weekend did not start well at all for the Bulldogs as they allowed five runs in the opening inning to OU. Mac settled down and headed into the bottom of the fifth down just 6-3; the Braves posted another five-run inning and, following their nine runs in the sixth, walked away with the 20-4 victory.
MC recorded 10 hits and also got aboard once on a hit batter. Reily Martin, Dylan Fontenot, and Kyle McDonald each tallied two hits; one of McDonalds' was a double.
Jesse Correll started the game at the mound for McPherson but didn't record a single out before getting pulled. Colter Streck finished out the inning and then pitched into the fifth. Loren Farley closed out the fifth and then started the sixth. Corey Taylor threw in the sixth but couldn't finish the seventh. First baseman/Designated hitter John Lauts recorded the final two outs for Mac.
Friday, Game 2 – 5-4 Ottawa
The second contest of Friday was a much tighter battle. McPherson trailed 4-1 heading into the final inning but a three-run seventh tied it up and forced extra innings. The Bulldogs were able to get a runner on in the eighth but couldn't bring him home, opening the window for OU. The Braves ended the game at 5-4 following a suicide squeeze.
The 'Dogs got on base eight times, seven on hits; McDonald and Trevor Haycock each tabbed two. Lauts got on twice, once via a hit and again on a walk. Stephon Miller hit a homerun for Mac; it was just the fourth homerun for MC this season.
Ethan Dowling pitched a great five innings for McPherson. The freshman threw 99 pitches to a total 23 batters; he recorded five strikeouts and allowed three earned runs on seven hits and six walks. Brant Rhoades ended the game and picked up the loss for MC after allowing two runs on five hits.
Saturday, Game 1 – 7-5 Ottawa
Saturday started the exact inverse for the Bulldogs as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the second inning. Ottawa pushed back and scored one in each of the third and fifth innings to pull the score to 3-2 with just two innings to go. A five-run sixth inning by OU put them up 7-3. McPherson scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh but it wasn't enough as the Braves won 7-5.
MC tallied eight hits, three walks, and got hit by a pitch once; they also got one twice thanks to Ottawa errors. Both Tom Potter and Miller logged a pair of hits while Seth Davenport and McDonald got aboard once on a hit and again by a walk; Haycock drew two walks in the game.
Nathan Crowe had an impressive outing for the MC pitching staff; he struck out seven batters and allowed just two runs in his five innings. Treyton DeVore started in the sixth but was relieved by Rhoades who finished the inning. Lauts came in and closed out the game.
Friday, Game 2 – 21-10 Ottawa
The Braves completed their sweep with a high-scoring final game; OU scored in each inning. McPherson kept the game close through three innings and trailed just 6-5 heading into the fourth. Ottawa had another monster inning as they put up seven runs to jump ahead 13-5. The Bulldogs posted four in the bottom of the fourth but were no match for OU's scoring as the game ended 21-10 in favor of the Braves.
Mac hit the ball very well in the series' final outing and also got on a few times courtesy of Ottawa errors; the 'Dogs tallied 18 hits and nine walks. Davenport, Potter, and Fontenot all got one three times to lead the team. Both Fontenot and Haycock led the team in RBI with two.
Keegan Hays started the game and earned the loss for Mac pitching; he went three and a third innings before being relieved. Farley and Correll finished the game on the mound for the 'Dogs.
The Bulldogs will host NCAA D-II Fort Hays State University on March 24th for their next contest; the single nine-inning game is set to start at 5:00 p.m. (CT) at Light Capital Diamonds.
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
