Hobbs, N.M. – In their first series of the season, the McPherson College baseball team split with the University of the Southwest. The Bulldogs won the first games on both days and outscored USW 27-19 in the pair of doubleheaders.
Saturday Game 1 – W 6-1
The Bulldogs knocked down the University of the Southwest 6-1 in seven innings on Saturday behind Reily Martin, who went 1-2 and hit a home run; he homered in the fifth inning.
Dylan Klava's six strikeouts helped MC to the victory; Klava allowed one earned run on four hits and no walks over seven innings.
McPherson stayed on top until the final out after taking the lead in the third, scoring two runs on a two-run error.
The 'Dogs got two-run rallies in the fifth inning and the seventh; in the fifth, Mac also had Martin's homer.
MC piled on two more runs in the top of the seventh. A clutch hit into a fielder's choice to open the scoring in the frame. That was followed up by Shon Pinard's double, scoring Kyle McDonald.
Saturday, Game 2 – L 4-3
A tight game was decided in the sixth inning as the Bulldogs fell to the Mustangs 4-3 in seven innings in game two of the DH.
Matthew Green was charged with the loss; he lasted just one inning, walked one, struck out none, and allowed one run.
The top of the first saw MC take an early lead, 1-0. Trent Smith got things going for the Bulldogs with a single. A stolen base then moved Smith from first to second. Klava then singled, scoring Smith.
University of the Southwest never surrendered the lead after the sixth inning, scoring one run on a sacrifice fly.
Sunday, Game 1 – W 10-4
Mac beat USW 10-4 in the opening game on Sunday thanks to a four-run seventh inning; the Bulldogs scored in the seventh on an RBI single by Klava, a two-run error, and a groundout by McDonald.
Klava racked up three RBIs on three hits for MC.
Tyler Bailey got it done on the rubber on the way to a win. He allowed three runs over five innings. He struck out three, walked two and surrendered six hits.
The closer for the 'Dogs, Blake Ware, put away the final five outs to record the save.
McPherson never trailed after scoring four runs in the first on an RBI double by Matt Bryan, a groundout by McDonald, and a two-run single by Klava.
After posting one run in the third, McPherson again scored one in the sixth. In the third, they put another on the board on an RBI single by Jackson Goodmiller, bringing home Bryan.
Sunday, Game 2- L 10-8
The 'Dogs fell 10-8 to the University of the Southwest in seven innings on in their final game in Hobbs, New Mexico despite racking up nine hits and eight runs.
Martin tallied four RBIs on two hits for McPherson; he singled in the second inning and homered in the fourth.
Marcus Dreyer was the game's losing pitcher as he lasted just one inning; he walked two and allowed five runs.
The top of the second saw the Bulldogs take an early lead, 3-0. McPherson's threat began with a single by McDonald. Pinard singled, scoring Goodmiller. They then tacked on more runs when Logan Necochea scored on a fielder's choice and Pinard scored on an RBI single by Martin.
The Mustangs survived Mac's surge and put up four runs of its own in the third; the game was never in doubt after the fourth, as USW scored five runs.
McPherson will have their first home series this weekend as they welcome in Dordt College; Friday's DH begins at 1:00 p.m. (CT) and the two squads will play a single nine-inning contest on Saturday at 1:00.
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
