Hillsboro, Kan. – The McPherson College baseball team lost a hard fought series to NAIA No. 11 Tabor College this weekend. After a low-scoring day one for the Bulldogs, they upped their hitting presence on Sunday but were unable to steal one away from the nationally ranked Bluejays.
Friday, Game 1 – L 13-2
The Bulldogs held tough until late against Tabor in the opening game of the series, but the 'Jays scored six runs late for a 13-2 victory.
After trailing 5-0, McPherson scored one run in the top of the fifth to cut their deficit to four. The 'Dogs pushed across another run in the top of the eighth, moving their deficit to 8-2.
A five-run eighth inning by the Bluejays put the game to rest, 13-2.
MC tallied nine hits and three walks; Matt Bryan, Trevor Haycock, and Jackson Goodmiller each recorded two.
Dylan Klava started the day on the mound and allowed eight runs in seven innings; he walked three and struck out six.
Friday, Game 2 – L 10-3
McPherson was only able to muster four hits in their 10-3 game two loss to TC.
The Bluejays started the game hot, scoring four runs in each of the first two innings; another two in the third brought Tabor's total to 10 runs.
Mac scored two of their runs in the fifth and the final run in the seventh.
Goodmiller was 2-of-2 from the plate, both singles.
Colter Streck ended up on the wrong side of the pitching decision; he lasted four innings, allowing 10 runs. Cameron Oram threw for the final two frames; he gave up just one hit and one walk in his time on the mound.
Sunday, Game 1 – L 22-12
It was a hitter's game in Sunday's opener as nearly 40 hits were totaled by the two teams. Unfortunately, for the Bulldogs, Tabor was able to plate more runners and took the game 22-12.
It was a big fourth, fifth, and sixth for the Bluejays as they scored 16 to put their lead at 18-5.
The 'Dogs made a game of it late, scoring six in the ninth inning including back-to-back homeruns by Evan Willow and Haycock. The late rally fell short, however, as Mac lost 22-12.
Both Klava and Haycock recorded three hits while four others tabbed two apiece; Haycock tripled in the third inning, singled in the sixth, and then had his homerun in the ninth.
Picking up the loss for the MC pitching staff was Blake Ware; the junior allowed 12 earned runs on 12 hits and a walk.
Sunday, Game 2 – L 8-4
McPherson held their first lead of the game in the second inning after they scored three runs, putting the score at 3-2. Tabor tied the game in the bottom of the second and then both teams plated one in the third to tie the game at 4-4.
A scoreless fourth was followed by the Bluejays taking a 5-4 lead in the fifth. Tabor scored three in the sixth to push their advantage to 8-4. The Bulldogs couldn't score in the final inning of the game, ending the contest with the home team coming out the victor.
Willow went 3-of-3 from the plate, all being singles. Dylan Fontenot knocked in a team-high three runs with his homerun in the second inning.
Lane Fleming took the loss for the Bulldogs; he allowed eight runs in five and two-thirds innings while striking out five.
The Bulldogs will have their final series of the regular season this weekend as they host Bethany College; the first doubleheader is set to begin at 5:00 p.m. (CT) on April 29th. In order for McPherson to be postseason eligible, they will need to sweep all four and have Friends University lose at least three to NAIA No. 14 York University.
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
