STERLING, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) ---
Lane Fleming (Council Grove, Kan., Council Grove HS) hit two home runs in game one and
Matthew Green (Torrance, Calif., Brethren Christian HS) struck out 10 in a complete-game effort in game two as McPherson College split a doubleheader with No. 23 Sterling College Friday to open their three-game Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) series.
The Warriors (29-11, 13-7 KCAC) took game one, 4-3, while the Bulldogs (20-24, 9-11) rebounded for an 8-3 win in game two.
Game 1 --- No. 23 Sterling 4, McPherson 3
McPherson grabbed the early 1-0 lead as Fleming hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning.
Sterling responded with a run in the second inning as Eddie Juarez hit a two-out single to left then scored on an Eric Skogseth double to center.
The Bulldogs manufactured a run in the third to regain a 2-1 advantage.
Dylan Klava (Douglas, Wyo., Colby CC) reached on a fielder's choice, then stole second before scoring on a
Trevor Haycock (New Iberia, La., New Iberia Sr. HS) RBI single.
The Warriors regained the lead in the fifth on a two-run home run to right by Javoni Thomas, then extended the lead to 4-2 when Manny Rojas led off the sixth with a solo shot to left.
McPherson stranded a runner in the seventh after
Bryce Strecker (Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity Catholic HS) drew a one-out walk and also left a runner on in the eighth as well, but not after Fleming hit his second home run of the game. The Bulldogs could get no closer, however.
Both of Fleming's home runs came on a 2-0 count. Aside from Fleming, Haycock added a hit and an RBI.
Juarez was the only Warrior with multiple hits, finishing with two. Rojas and Skogseth each had a hit and an RBI.
Both teams used three pitchers in game one. Colton Tison went six innings for the win for Sterling, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks while striking out six. Reliever Ryo Takenaka threw the seventh and eighth innings, allowing one run - Fleming's second home run - on two hits and a walk. Miceal Taylor struck out two in a perfect ninth inning to get the save.
Soren Yarnall (Tustin, Calif., Santa Ana College) took the loss, throwing five innings of seven-hit ball, allowing four runs and striking out three.
Jarrod Manick (Aldergrove, B.C., Canada, Yale Secondary School) conceded just one walk while striking out three in two innings.
Brett Carter (Sachse, Texas, Sachse HS) threw a perfect eighth inning.
Game 2 --- McPherson 8, No. 23 Sterling 3
Sterling grabbed the opening advantage against McPherson, leading off the bottom of the first inning with three straight singles and taking the lead when Corey Davis scored on a Miguel Reyes single to left. The Warriors could not push more runs across, leaving the bases loaded after Juarez drew a two-out walk.
The Bulldogs responded quickly as
Reily Martin (Auburn, Kan., Hayden HS) led off the second inning with a single to left and
Dylan Fontenot (Lafayette, La., Carencro HS) smacked a two-run home run to center. Kyle Wedel and Jakob Shields drew back-to-back walks to put two runners on, but both would be stranded.
McPherson added four more in the third as
Desmond Grayson (Olathe, Kan., Olathe North HS) drew a bases-loaded walk, Martin scored on a Wedel single to center and Klava and Fontenot each had a sacrifice fly.
After Sterling scored a run in the bottom of the third to make it 6-2, Strecker responded with a two-run single to center to push the lead to six runs.
In the bottom of the fourth, Rojas scored on a Davis RBI single to right.
McPherson would be limited to one baserunner - Martin drew a walk in the sixth - the rest of the way. Sterling didn't fare much better with zero baserunners in the fifth and sixth innings. In the seventh, the Warriors threatened with a late rally. Nicholas Domitrovich singled to center to open the inning, then Kyle Ulandy drew a two-out walk before Juarez hit into a fielder's choice to end the game.
The first three batters in the Sterling lineup - Davis, Domitrovich and Reyes each had two hits. Klava was the only Bulldog with multiple hits. Fontenot drove in three on the home run and a sacrfifice fly.
Green picked up a complete-game victory, scattering three runs on nine hits and five walks in 10 strikeouts.
Five Sterling pitchers combined to throw with starter Kasey Biddle taking the loss.
The teams are scheduled to close out the series at 11 a.m. today (Saturday) with a single 9-inning game.
