McPherson, Kan. – It was conference opening weekend for the KCAC and the Bulldogs drew nationally Receiving Votes York College. It was a high-scoring series with 78 runs scored by the two teams combined; the newly added Panthers swept MC, 4-0, scoring 53 total runs.
Saturday, Game 1 – L 7-4
The first game of the series started as a pitcher's duel with just four runs scored through six innings; York scored first with a grand slam in the third. YC put another on the board in the seventh and then two more in the ninth to take a 7-1 lead.
Mac went on a bit of a rally in the final frame of the game, plating three before ultimately losing 7-4.
The Bulldogs logged seven hits with Kyle McDonald and Shon Pinard each tallying two; McDonald had MC's lone homerun.
Dylan Klava pitched the first six innings for Mac, recording the loss after surrendering four earned runs on four hits and five walks while sitting down six.
Saturday, Game 2 – L 10-3
Heading into fourth inning, the Panthers led 4-3; York brought around four more to jump ahead 8-3.
The Bulldog pitching staff upped their game in the final few innings with Matthew Green and Colton Allemand but McPherson had trouble getting runners aboard and eventually fell 10-3.
Klava went 2-of-3 and also recorded a walk. Both Trent Smith and McDonald got on twice as well, once on a hit and once via base on balls.
Starting things on the mound for the 'Dogs was Colter Streck who threw for three and a third innings before being relieved; he gave up eight runs on seven hits and four walks.
Sunday, Game 1 – L 23-16
On Sunday, the wind picked up and so did the run total. 39 runs were scored in the third game of the series with 10 coming from home runs.
McPherson took their first lead of the series by scoring one in the opening inning.
York went on a bit of a scoring streak in the second through fifth innings, scoring 17 runs in the four innings. MC added runs to the board as well, bringing nine around during that span.
After trailing 17-10 after the fifth, the Bulldogs made a game of it with four runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to push the score to 19-15 with an inning to play. The comeback came up short as YC held on for the 23-17 win.
14 hits and five walks were tallied by McPherson. Matt Bryan led the team in on base percentage with his two hits and three walks in seven at bats. Klava tabbed a team-high three hits including a pair of homeruns; he had six Runs Batted In.
Lane Fleming had the unfortunate task of battling a heavy-hitting York College squad on such a windy day; he lasted four innings, allowing 14 runs, 12 earned, on 15 hits and two walks.
Sunday, Game 2 – L 13-2
In the final game of the series, the 'Dogs again scored in the first inning of the game but didn't again until the fifth. York on the other hand, put a run on the scoreboard in all but the seventh inning.
McPherson left nine runners stranded which would have helped change the 13-2 final.
Dylan Fontenot and Evan Willow each tallied two of Mac's seven hits; Trevor Haycock also made it safely aboard twice on a hit and a walk.
The Bulldogs used five pitchers with Tyler Bailey recording the loss after starting the game and throwing for three innings.
MC won't have another game until next Saturday when they travel to Ottawa University for a four-game series with the Braves; start time for the March 12th doubleheader is 1:00 p.m. (CT)
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
