Hutchinson, Kan. – After losing a pair of close contests on Friday (5-2 then 4-3), the MC baseball team pulled off a comeback against Dordt College 8-6 on Saturday afternoon. The results of the weekend series moved the Bulldogs to 3-4 for the year.
"We did a really good job barreling some balls, but were just hitting them right at guys during the first half of the game on Sunday," said Coach Martinez. "We did a really good job of continuing to work the process and eventually things started to go our way. Our pitching staff was exceptional with getting outs and did a great job of working the process as well and letting outs take care of themselves. These guys have worked extremely hard to get where they are at and it's good to see the hard work pay off. We've got something special going on this team and I can't wait to see how it plays out for these guys this season."
Friday, Game 1 – L 5-2
Dordt took the lead in the sixth inning, and the Bulldogs were unable to muster a comeback, losing 5-2 in seven innings on game one on Friday.
Dylan Klava ended up on the wrong side of the pitching decision, charged with the loss. He lasted 5 1/3 innings, striking out five, and allowing three runs.
In the bottom of the first, Mac grabbed the early lead, 2-0. A single by Matt Bryan, plating Reily Martin started the inning off. The 'Dogs pushed more runs across when Bryan scored on an RBI single by Dylan Fontenot.
The Defenders never trailed after scoring two runs in the sixth on a fielder's choice and an RBI single.
Friday, Game 2 – L 4-3
The bullpen for McPherson surrendered no hits in their two innings, but MC still fell to Dordt 4-3 in seven innings in game two of the doubleheader.
Tyler Bailey was the game's losing pitcher. He lasted five innings, walked two, struck out two, and allowed four runs.
A one-run fourth inning helped bring McPherson within three.
After pushing across two runs in the bottom of the sixth, the Bulldogs faced just a 4-3 deficit. A single by Bryan and an RBI double by Klava fueled the comeback.
Saturday, Game 1 – W 8-6
Mac used a six-run seventh inning to push them past Dordt College to claim an 8-6 win in the nine-inning game.
McPherson used a pitcher-by-inning approach as their next contest isn't until February 20th. Corey Taylor got the win for the Bulldogs while Blake Ware picked up the save.
The big seventh inning was sparked by a bobbled grounder by the Defenders; the 'Dogs scored all six of their runs with two outs.
Klava led the team in RBIs with three, one of which was a solo homerun over the left field fence in the bottom of the sixth. The Bulldog bats had just one strikeout and four doubles in the win.
McPherson will be back in action this weekend as they travel to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The 'Dogs will play Hastings College (Neb.) at 1:00 p.m. (CT) followed by Oklahoma City University after; the team will go up against Hastings again on Saturday at 10:00 a.m.
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
