Sterling Takes Two From @MacCollegeBSB

McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- After pounding out 18 hits in Friday's series opener against Sterling College, the McPherson College baseball team was limited to just 16 over two games Saturday as the Bulldogs dropped both halves of a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) doubleheader at Bulldog Park.

Sterling (13-13, 7-5 KCAC) came from behind for a 12-8 victory in game one, then held off McPherson (19-12, 5-10 KCAC), 7-4, in game two.

Game 1 --- Sterling 12, McPherson 8
The Warriors plated the first run of the game as Corey Davis singled to lead off the game then scored two batters later on a Hunter Green RBI single to left.

The Bulldogs countered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning behind a two-run double by Dominick Ramos (Fresno, Calif., Hartnell College) and an RBI single through the left side by Dylan Fontenot (Carencro, La., Carencro HS).

Both teams added a run in the third inning with McPherson's coming on a Ramos RBI groundout that scored pinch-runner Trent Smith (Wellsville, Kan., Wellsville HS). Smith was running for Evan Willow (Victoria, B.C., Canada, Lambrick Park HS), who reached on a one-out triple to deep right field.

McPherson extended its lead to 5-2 in the fourth when Jakob Shields (DeSoto, Kan., DeSoto HS) scored on a Jackson Goodmiller (St. George, Kan., Rock Creek HS) RBI single.

Sterling rattled off five straight runs, scoring one in the fifth on another Green RBI single, then adding four in the sixth, to move in front 7-5. Tobias Culpepper and AJ Romer had RBI singles and Corey Davis added a two-run triple.

The Bulldogs tied the game in the bottom of the sixth as a pair of runs came across after a fly ball off the bat of Goodmiller was dropped in the outfield.

After getting out of a two-on, one-out jam in the top of the seventh, McPherson edged ahead in the bottom half of the frame on a Willow solo home run to left. The Bulldogs eventually loaded the bases with just one out, but Trevor Haycock (New Iberia, La., New Iberia Sr. HS) grounded into a fielder's choice that saw Ramos forced out on a close play at the plate and pinch-hitter Desmond Grayson (Olathe, Kan., Olathe North HS) struck out to end the inning. 

The play at the plate seemed to light a fire in the Warriors as they scored three runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth. McPherson was unable to muster a response in their final two at-bats as a Lane Fleming (Council Grove, Kan., Council Grove HS) single up the middle in the eight accounted for the Bulldogs' lone baserunner.

McPherson starter Josh Lewis (Loveland, Colo., Thompson Valley HS) threw a solid five innings, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out five. The Bulldogs used five pitchers over the final four innings with Tyler Dunn (Lawton, Okla., Eisenhower HS) taking the loss after allowing a pair of unearned runs to open the eighth inning.

Ramos and Goodmiller had three RBIs apiece for the Bulldogs, while Willow had a double and a triple.

TJ Moore struck out three and allowed just one hit over the final 2 2/3 innings to pick up the win for Sterling.

Davis led the Warriors with four hits, including two doubles and a triple, and drove in three runs. He also stole a pair of bases and scored four runs. Romer had three hits and two RBIs, while Green had three hits, drew two walks and drove in four. Miguel Velazquez also had three hits.

Game 2 --- Sterling 7, McPherson 4
Sterling grabbed the early lead in game two as well, plating one in the top of the first as Davis scored on a Conyal Cody one-out RBI single up the middle.The Warriors loaded the bases later in the frame, but McPherson starter Luke Whitfield (Berthoud, Colo., Ball State University) was able to get out of the frame with a pair of strikeouts.

Fleming evened the score with a solo home run down the right-field line in the bottom of the first.

Each team added a run in the second inning. Culpepper scored on a wild pitch after reaching on a triple to deep right-center, while Smith scored on a Brevin Baessler (Tempe, Ariz., Western Nebraska CC) RBI single for McPherson.

The Warriors broke through for five runs in the fifth inning on just two hits. Sterling's effort was aided by a pair of Bulldog errors. The Warriors nearly added to their advantage after loading the bases in the sixth, but Bulldog reliever Garrett Connor (Highlands Ranch, Colo., Arapahoe HS) was able to get out of the jam unscathed.

The Bulldogs mounted a seventh-inning rally as Smith scored on a Mark Strebin (Westville, Ill., Danville Area CC) RBI double and Fontenot scored on a Shields RBI single to right, leaving runners at the corners with just one out, but a pair of strikeouts ended the contest.

Whitfield had a solid start going, scattering two runs on six hits in the first four innings before running into trouble in the fifth. He ended up allowing seven runs (four earned) on eight hits and three walks. Connor and Bailey Porter (Loveland, Colo., Thompson Valley HS) each threw an inning of scoreless relief.

Shields was the only Bulldog with multiple hits in game two, while Ramos reached twice - once on a single and once on a walk.

Kevin Gonzalez allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out three in 6 1/3 innings to get the win. 

Green led Sterling with three hits. 

McPherson returns to the diamond Wednesday with a doubleheader at Hastings College. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. The Bulldogs then host Manhattan Christian College for a three-game series next Friday and Saturday.