McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College baseball team split a doubleheader with William Penn University at Light Capital Diamond on Sunday to emerge with a split in the four-game weekend series. McPherson won game one, 3-2, in 10 innings, while William Penn took game two, 10-1.
Game 1 --- McPherson 3, William Penn 2 (10 innings)
McPherson jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two innings when
Dylan Klava (Douglas, Wyo., Colby CC) scored on an RBI single by
Evan Willow (Victoria, B.C., Canada, Lambrick Park HS) in the first inning and
Trevor Haycock (New Iberia, La., New Iberia Sr. HS) scored on a
Reily Martin (Auburn, Kan., Hayden HS) double down the left-field line in the second.
The Bulldogs had an opportunity to add to the lead in the fourth inning after Haycock and
Jackson Goodmiller (St. George, Kan., Rock Creek HS) opened the frame with back-to-back singles. The pair eventually moved up to second and third on a wild pitch, but the rally stalled and the duo was stranded.
William Penn tied the score with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth on a two-RBI double to deep left by Colton Johnson. Neither run was earned due to a pair of McPherson errors to open the inning.
After both teams left runners on base in the sixth, Klava was brought into pitch in the top of the seventh and sat the Statesmen down in order.
The Bulldogs had an opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the seventh as Martin led off the inning with a single to shallow center and moved to second on a
Trent Smith (Wellsville, Kan., Wellsville HS) sacrifice bunt. Klava drew an intentional walk to put two runners on, but Willow grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Klava kept the Bulldogs in the game, allowing just one hit - a leadoff single in the eighth - over the next three innings of relief. McPherson stranded one in the eighth and two - including one at third base - in the ninth.
Dylan Fontenot (Lafayette, La., Carencro HS) opened the 10th with a single up the middle, then moved to second on a single to deep right by
Lane Fleming (Council Grove, Kan., Council Grove HS). Haycock reached on a bunt single down the third-base line to load the bases.
Goodmiller followed by sending a 1-1 pitch back up the middle. With none out, the William Penn defender attempted to get the force out at home plate, but Fontenot crossed the plate with the game-winning run before Statesman catcher Dominick Sawyer could record the out.
McPherson racked up 12 hits to William Penn's three, but stranded 14 batters.
Five Bulldogs - Martin, Klava, Fontenot, Fleming and Haycock - racked up multiple hits. Klava also drew a pair of intentional walks.
Johnson, Wilson Lorenzo and Aaron Petrash accounted for William Penn's three hits.
McPherson starting pitcher
Matthew Green (Torrance, Calif., Brethren Christian HS) threw six innings, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out six, but left with a no-decision. Klava pitched the final four innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one to get the win.
William Penn starter Scott Simpson allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four. Brian Harrity was hung with the loss after allowing one run on six hits and two walks in four innings. He struck out three.
Game 2 --- William Penn 10, McPherson 1
The Statesmen (2-2) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Lorenzo rapped a two-run double down the left field line.
McPherson responded in the bottom half of the inning as Martin scored on a Willow single to shallow center field. That would be the only run for the Bulldogs, however, as William Penn starter Austin Neff limited McPherson to just three hits and one walk while striking out four in a complete-game effort.
Willow,
Brett Carter (Sachse, Texas, Sachse HS) and
Bryce Strecker (Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity Catholic HS) accounted for McPherson's three hits. Sawyer had two hits, including a double, for William Penn, while Lorenzo (3) and Petrash (2) had multiple RBIs.
William Penn added two runs in the second, four in the third and two in the sixth off a trio of McPherson pitchers. Starter
Blake Ware (Overland Park, Kan., Allen County CC) went just 1 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on three hits and five walks while striking out one.
Logan Worswick (Sachse, Texas, Sachse HS) threw 1 1/3 innings and was charged with four runs on one hit and one walk.
Treyton DeVore (Inman, Kan., Inman HS) tossed the final four innings, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk.
The Bulldogs (6-2) return to Light Capital Diamond Tuesday night for a 6 p.m. game against Central Christian College. The single 9-inning game has been designated as a home game for the Tigers. McPherson then travels to Fort Worth, Texas, for a four-game weekend series at Texas Wesleyan University. The Bulldogs and Rams will play doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday with the first pitch both days scheduled for noon.
