McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College baseball team limited Central Christian College to just four hits but committed five errors en route to a 5-2 loss Tuesday evening at Light Capital Diamond.
One night after emptying the bench in a KCAC loss to Tabor, the Bulldogs (23-27) used a mix of part-time starters and reserves in the starting lineup.
McPherson starter
Logan Worswick (Sachse, Texas, Sachse HS) allowed just a leadoff single to Mario Rivera in the bottom of the first, but retired the next six batters in order before running into trouble in the third inning. Worswick hit Troy Carrigan with a pitch to open the frame but got the next batter to ground into a double play. Rivera reached again on an error, then scored later in the frame on a two-run single by Zane Howard.
The Tigers (13-32) added a run in the fifth inning. Rivera drew a leadoff walk to reach base for the third time in the game, then scored later in the inning on a throwing error.
The Bulldogs got on the board with a pair of runs in the eighth inning on a two-run single to deep left by
Bryce Strecker (Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity Catholic HS).
Central Christian responded with two runs in the bottom of the eighth as Ian Eshelman scored when Nate Patterson reached on another Bulldog throwing error. Rivera reached for the fourth time in the game on a fielder's choice, then moved to second on a balk before stealing both third base and home.
Brett Carter (Sachse, Texas, Sachse HS) doubled down the right-field line to open the ninth, but the next three Bulldogs were retired in order to end the game.
Strecker and Carter finished with two hits - including a double - each.
Kyle Wedel (Wasco, Calif., Taft College) and
Desmond Grayson (Olathe, Kan., Olathe North HS) accounted for McPherson's other hits. Grayson's hit was a double in the eighth inning.Â
Worswick - one of six Bulldog pitchers used in the contest - took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two in three innings. McPherson hurlers ended up with eight strikeouts in the contest.
Rivera was a thorn in McPherson's side all night. He finished with one of Central Christian's four hits, but reached four times, scored three times and stole four bases. Howard, Caleb Gorman and Hunter Wilcher also had hits for the Tigers.
CCC reliever Bryan Scott threw three innings of relief, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one in three innings to get the win. Keaton Snyder pitched a scoreless ninth, allowing just Carter's double while striking out two, to get the save.
The Bulldogs close the regular season with a three-game Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) series with rival Bethany College (21-31, 5-19 KCAC) at Philip Anderson Baseball Field in Lindsborg. The series opens Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. doubleheader and wraps up with a single 9-inning game at 1 p.m. Sunday.
McPherson currently leads Saint Mary (11-32, 9-15 KCAC) by two games and both Kansas Wesleyan (26-25, 8-16 KCAC) and Ottawa (24-25, 8-16 KCAC) by three games for the sixth and final spot in the upcoming KCAC Tournament.
