McPherson, Kan. – After the rain pushed the series from this weekend, McPherson College and Tabor College finally got their games in this past Monday and Tuesday. The NAIA's No. 10 ranked team took all four.
Monday, Game 1 – 9-3 Tabor College
It was a bad start for McPherson as they allowed seven runs in the first two innings of the series opener. The 'Dogs won the final five innings by a score of 3-2 but dropped the complete seven-inning contest 9-3.
Mac logged eight hits in the game with three players being responsible for six. Matt Bryan, Evan Willow, and Reily Martin each tabbed two knocks of the ball; Trevor Haycock got aboard twice as well, once on a hit and again on a walk.
Ethan Dowling got the start and the loss for the Bulldogs as he pitched two innings before being relieved by Brant Rhoades. Typically a short-term middle relief pitcher, Rhoades threw for five innings for MC, allowing just two runs on four hits.
Monday, Game 2 – 7-1 Tabor College
The Bulldogs gave up one run in each of the first three innings before getting one back in the fifth to put the score at 3-1 with two innings to play. A rough sixth innings, four runs allowed, put Mac in too deep of a hole as they fell 7-1.
Just four hits were tallied by the 'Dogs; they also had a pair of walks. Martin's double brought in Shon Pinard to prevent the shutout.
Starting game two on the mound was Nathan Crowe. The freshman went five and a third before being relieved; he struck out four TC batters. Colter Streck completed the rest of the game, throwing for one and two thirds innings.
Tuesday, Game 1 – 16-5 Tabor College
McPherson's Tuesday started well as they scored two runs in the opening frame to jump in front 2-0. The momentum was short-lived as the 'Dogs gave up four in the bottom of the first. A big six-run fifth inning by the 'Jays put them ahead 14-3 with two innings to play. MC put up two more in the sixth but then gave them right back in the bottom of the inning. Bases loaded in the seventh went unused as Tabor held on for their 16-5 victory.
Stephon Miller had a solid performance as he went 4-of-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Both Kyle McDonald and Dylan Fontenot each tabbed a pair of hits in the loss.
It was a pitching by committee approach for Mac as they used a trio of pitchers in the game. Keegan Hays got the starting nod and went two innings before Gage Calvin entered in relief. Calvin pitched for three innings before Loren Farley was brought in to finish out the game.
Tuesday, Game 2 – 11-0 Tabor College
Base runners did not come easy for McPherson in the final game of the series as they tallied just three singles and one walk. Tabor on the other hand recorded 13 knocks of the ball and four walks; five of their hits went over the fence. All of the scoring happened in two innings, eight in the third and three in the fifth for the Bluejays, giving them the 11-0 win.
Willow, McDonald, and Bryce Strecker tallied the hits for MC and Jimmy Fisher drew the lone walk.
Jesse Correll logged the loss for the Bulldog pitching staff; the freshman went two and a third innings before being replaced. Treyton DeVore threw for the final three and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks; he also struck out two.
McPherson has one series left in 2015 as they square off with the Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes this Thursday and Saturday; the 'Dogs travel to Salina, Kansas on April 23rd for an afternoon doubleheader.
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
