YORK, Neb. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College baseball team jumped out to an 8-2 lead Sunday at York College but could not hold on as the hosts came back for an 11-8 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) victory at Levitt Stadium.
The Bulldogs (7-15, 0-3 KCAC) grabbed an early 1-0 lead when
Lane Fleming (Council Grove, Kan., Council Grove HS) scored on a
Jackson Goodmiller (St. George, Kan., Rock Creek HS) sacrifice fly in the second inning.
The Panthers (14-9, 3-0 KCAC) tied the game with a run in the third, but McPherson retook the lead in the fourth when
Dylan Fontenot (Lafayette, La., Carencro HS) scored on a
Trevor Haycock (New Iberia, La., New Iberia Sr. HS) double to right field.
The Bulldogs added to their lead with a pair of runs in the fifth, capitalizing on three Panther errors. Goodmiller plated the first run, scoring on a fielder's choice and an error.
Dylan Klava (Douglas, Wyo., Colby CC) came around to score later in the inning when
Evan Willow (Victoria, B.C., Canada, Lambrick Park HS) reached on a throwing error.
York cut the lead to 4-2 with another run in the fifth as Kevin Olmstead scored on a Lamar Smith single to right field.
McPherson exploded for four runs in the top of the seventh to take an 8-2 lead behind two-run home runs by Willow and Fontenot.
The Panthers matched the Bulldogs' output with four runs in the bottom half of the frame to cut the lead to 8-6. McPherson threatened in the top of the eighth, loading the bases with one out before Willow flew into a double play to end the inning.
York continued their hot hitting int he eighth inning, scoring five runs on five hits keyed by a two-run single by Billy Johnson and a two-run double by Connor Towle.
Faced with a three-run deficit in the ninth, McPherson loaded the bases with one out but a strikeout and flyout ended the game.
Fontenot and Fleming each had three hits, while Willow and Fontenot both had two RBIs. Goodmiller and
Bryce Strecker (Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity Catholic HS) added two hits apiece.
Johnson and Towle each had two hits and three RBIs to lead York.
McPherson used four pitchers in the contest, with starter Matthew Green receiving a no-decision after scattering four runs on seven hits and striking out five in six innings. Jeromy Denton took the loss after allowing four runs on three hits while recording two outs in the eighth inning.
The Panthers used five pitchers with Bryan Faucher picking up the win after giving up just one hit and one walk in the final 1 2/3 innings.
McPherson continues KCAC play next weekend as Ottawa University (16-6, 2-1 KCAC) visits Light Capital Diamond for a three-game series. The Bulldogs and Braves kick off the series with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday before playing a single 9-inning game at 1 p.m. Sunday.
