McPherson, Kan. – The 2016 campaign came to a close on Sunday for the MC baseball team as they took on county-rival Bethany College over the weekend. Mac went 1-3 in the series but tied the school record for wins in a season with their 20 victories.
Thursday, Game 1 – L 19-6
The Bulldogs took a 2-1 lead after a two-run third but a four-run fifth inning put Bethany ahead 6-2. Mac put two more runs on the board in the sixth to bring the score to 6-4.
A high-scoring seventh, eighth, and ninth from the Swedes put them up 19-4. McPherson was only able to score two in the bottom of the ninth, bringing the final to 19-6.
Evan Willow went 3-of-5 from the plate including a double. Both Trent Smith and Reily Martin tallied a pair of hits with Martin logging a triple in the first inning.
Pitching the first six innings for Mac was Dylan Klava; the junior allowed six runs, only two earned, on six hits and zero walks.
Thursday, Game 2 – L 5-2
In the second game of the DH, the Bulldogs jumped in front 1-0 and held their advantage into the fourth. Bethany scored two in the fourth and then another three in the fifth to jump in front 5-1.
McPherson put four runners on the base paths in the seventh but only plated one, losing the game 5-2.
Only five hits were recorded by the Bulldogs but they had four walks as well. Lane Fleming had one of the hits and also picked up a pair of walks.
Colter Streck had a strong showing in his final start on the mound for Mac; the senior allowed five earned runs on 10 hits and no walks through five innings.
Sunday, Game 1 – W 12-11
A strong first inning by MC put the 'Dogs up 4-1 in their opening frame of day two's doubleheader. McPherson held a 5-3 lead after the fourth but after a five-run seventh inning, the Swedes jumped in front 9-5.
Mac allowed a pair of runs in the ninth and faced an 11-5 deficit with three outs to go. The Bulldogs put together an incredible inning with five hits, three walks, and a Swede error to score seven runs, stealing the game from Bethany, 12-11.
McPherson had 14 hits and picked up five walks in the win. Klava was 3-of-5 at the plate and recorded a team-high three RBI. Martin, Kyle McDonald, and Dylan Fontenot each had a pair of hits; both Martin and McDonald logged a walk as well.
McPherson went through four pitchers in the nine-inning game. Blake Ware started the game and went six and a third innings; he allowed eight runs on nine hits and a walk. Senior Brant Rhoades picked up the win after pitching the ninth.
Sunday, Game 2 – L 8-3
The final game of the series started with a bunch of errors for Mac which led to a 6-1 deficit for the Bulldogs after four innings. McPherson scored a pair of runs in the fifth to inch closer, 6-3.
A two-run sixth by Bethany increased their lead to 8-3 and unfortunately MC could not come back, falling 8-3.
Six hits were tallied by the Bulldogs, coming from six different players; Martin had a hit and also a walk in the game.
Fleming went five and two-thirds innings for Mac; he gave up five unearned and three earned runs on nine hits and one walk. Cameron Oram finished the game on the mound; the freshman struck out three of the five batters he faced.
The season is now over for McPherson baseball. The team graduates six seniors but will bring back several pieces of their record-setting roster
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
