@MacCollegeBSB Swept by Bethany on Senior Day

McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College baseball team celebrated its six seniors Sunday afternoon but came out on the short end in both halves of a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) doubleheader against Bethany College.

The Bulldogs (28-22, 6-19 KCAC) saw a comeback attempt fall short in a 5-3 loss in game one. The Swedes (23-22, 13-14 KCAC) took game two by an 8-1 score. 

Game 1 --- Bethany 5, McPherson 3
After each team stranded a runner in the first inning, Bethany plated four runs with two outs in the second inning. The Swedes had four hits, including an Elijah Holguin RBI double, and took advantage of four Bulldog errors in the frame.

That score held until the seventh inning when Bethany tacked on another run aided by a pair of McPherson errors.

McPherson stranded one in the bottom half of the frame, another in the fifth and two each in the third and sixth innings before getting on the board in the bottom of the seventh.

Kyle Wedel (Wasco, Calif., Taft College) drew a leadoff walk, then came around to score on an RBI single up the middle by Lane Fleming (Council Grove, Kan., Council Grove HS). Trevor Haycock (New Iberia, La., New Iberia Sr. HS) came in when Evan Willow (Victoria, B.C., Canada, Lambrick Park HS) drew a bases-loaded walk and Trent Smith (Wellsville, Kan., Wellsville HS) scored on a fielder's choice. Mark Strebin (Westville, Ill., Danville Area CC) was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, but a Reily Martin (Auburn, Kan., Hayden HS) strikeout ended the rally.

The Bulldogs had a pair of base-runners in the eighth and another in the ninth but could not make up the deficit.

Bethany starter Eben Brooks got the win on the mound, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits and five walks while striking out five in 6 1/3 innings. Jimmy Yandell threw the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing just a hit and a walk to get the save.

McPherson's Treyton DeVore (Inman, Kan., Inman HS) got the Senior Day start and threw a solid seven innings, allowing five unearned runs on eight hits and a walk. Garrett Connor (Highlands Ranch, Colo., Arapahoe HS) threw a scoreless final two innings for the Bulldogs.

Sean Anderson had four hits to lead the Swedes, while Holguin added two hits - both doubles - and the team's lone RBI.

Haycock and Brevin Baessler (Tempe, Ariz., Western Nebraska CC) each had two hits to lead McPherson offensively.

Game 2 --- Bethany 8, McPherson 1
The Bulldogs grabbed the early lead in the second game with a run in the second inning.

Willow opened the frame with a sharp single to first base, then moved to second on a Baessler single before scoring on a Trevor Johnson (San Diego, Calif., Helix HS) RBI single.

The Swedes stranded a pair of runners without a run in the third, then plated two runs in the fourth as Tyler Horchem scored on a fielder's choice and Mike Lowery scored on an RBI single.

Anderson extended the lead to 3-1 with a solo home run in the fifth off McPherson starter Javier Saenz (Brighton, Colo., Brighton HS).

Bethany broke the game open with four runs on four hits off Bulldog reliever Tyler Dunn (Lawton, Okla., Eisenhower HS). With the bases loaded, Anderson hit a two-run single to right. On the very next pitch, Dalton Bidon rapped a two-run single through the right side.

McPherson had an opportunity to cut into the lead in the sixth as Justin Risdall (Colorado Springs, Colo., Vista Ridge HS) reached on a dropped-third-strike wild pitch and Haycock singled to right. Bethany pitcher Yoberth Marchan got out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts sandwiched around a groundout to third.

The Swedes added a run in the seventh as Brandon Peters scored on a Holguin RBI single.
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Marchan - who tossed a complete-game four-hitter - retired the Bulldogs in order in the seventh to end the game. He finished with eight strikeouts.

Saenz took the loss for McPherson, allowing three runs on eight hits and a pair of walks in five innings.

Dunn and Brett Carter (Sachse, Texas, Sachse HS) each threw an inning in relief for the Bulldogs.

Heriberto Rosa Gomez had a game-high three hits, while Anderson had two hits, scored twice and drove in three. Lowery, Peters and Holguin all had two hits apiece.

"We pitched well enough to win today," said head coach Bryan Moses. "We just got beat by two very good starters."

Prior to Sunday's doubleheader, the program honored its six seniors -- DeVore, Haycock, Martin, Wedel, Willow and Dylan Fontenot (Carencro, La., Carencro HS).

"I want to thank the seniors for all of their hard work and dedication to the program," added Moses. "They will be missed."

McPherson returns to the diamond Tuesday afternoon at Bulldog Park against the University of Saint Mary, resuming a doubleheader that was postponed by inclement weather on April 8. The first game will be resumed at 2 p.m. with the Spires batting in the top of the fourth with a 4-1 lead, one out and runners on the corners. A seven-inning game will follow to complete the three-game series between the two schools.