WICHITA, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) ---
Lane Fleming (Council Grove, Kan., Council Grove HS) had two hits, including a double, but the McPherson College baseball team could not overcome a solid pitching performance by Ryan Baca in a 5-1 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) loss to (RV) Friends University Friday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.
Fleming hit a double to deep right-center in the fourth inning, then had a single in the ninth as the Bulldogs (13-22, 4-9 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference) attempted to mount a late charge.
Baca (6-2) limited McPherson to one run on five hits and two walks while striking out nine in a complete-game effort.
"There were a lot of special things about [Baca] tonight," said head coach Bryan Moses. "He's a senior lefty who works in and out, hits his spots, and has three pitches that he had command of all night. He's probably the best pitcher we've seen so far and, some nights, you just get shut down by a good arm."
The Falcons (21-12, 9-4 KCAC) grabbed the early lead when Augie Isaacson scored on a John Gardner RBI triple in the first inning.
The Bulldogs had two runners on with just one out in the top of the second after an
Evan Willow (Victoria, B.C., Canada, Lambrick Park HS) single and a
Reily Martin (Auburn, Kan., Hayden HS) walk, but the rally was stunted when Willow was called out for interference after
Bryce Strecker (Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity Catholic HS) flew out to right for the second out.
Friends scored a pair of runs in the third when Isaacson and Jace Snodgrass scored on a Gardner RBI double deep down the right-field line, then added two more in the seventh when Isaacson and Snodgrass scored on a two-run double to left-center by Brok Schwartkopf.
McPherson got on the board with a run in the ninth.
Jakob Shields (DeSoto, Kan., DeSoto HS) led off the inning with a single to shallow right.
Jackson Goodmiller (St. George, Kan., Rock Creek HS) followed by drawing a one-out walk and Fleming hit a single to load the bases. Shields broke up the shutout, scampering home from third when
Dylan Fontenot (Lafayette, La., Carencro HS) hit into a fielder's choice, but Baca closed the door by striking out Willow to win the game.
Isaacson had three hits, walked once, and scored three times, but it was Gardner who provided the big bat, driving in three with a double and a triple. Schwartkopf had one hit and drove in two after entering the game in the third as pinch-runner for an injured Joe Pedlowe.
In addition to Fleming's two hits, Fontenot, Willow and Shields each had singles.
Blake Ware (Overland Park, Kan., Allen County CC) took the loss on the mound for the Bulldogs, falling to 2-3 overall after allowing five runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out five in 6 1/3 innings.
Logan Worswick (Sachse, Texas, Sachse HS) threw the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing just one baserunner while striking out one.
"I thought Blake was fine tonight," added Moses. "He was up [in the zone] a couple of times and that's probably where he got hit the most. Blake gave us a chance to win. In this conference, if you come out of a game giving up five games, you typically have a chance to win, but not against [Baca] tonight."
Friday's late spark gives Moses hope for the rest of the series. "I think [there will be some carryover]. One thing I've said about our guys all year, they're resilient and they always bounce back. I think we're going to play tough these next two games. Tonight, we just got shut down by a good arm."
The teams close out the series with a doubleheader Saturday back at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. First pitch for game one has been moved up to 11 a.m. in an effort to get ahead of anticipated inclement weather in Central Kansas.
