Photo by Micah Gilbert
McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College baseball team went 1-3 this weekend in a four game series with nationally ranked Concordia University, moving their record to 5-3 on the season.
On day 1 of the weekend series, the Bulldogs dropped a close one 4-2. The game was knotted at one, through 5 innings of play, but Concordia put up three runs in the top of the sixth to give themselves some breathing room. Mac added a run in their half of the sixth to trim the lead to two, but that was as close as they could get.
Dylan Marble (Sr. Danville, Ill.) was on the bump for the Bulldogs to start the game. He pitched five and two-thirds, giving up four runs, only one of them earned, on eight hits. He fanned six and walked none in picking up the loss. Brett Carter (Sr. Sachse, Texas) came out of the pen and worked the final inning and a third, holding Concordia hitless and scoreless while striking out one and walking two.
The Bulldog offense managed two runs on three hits. Two of those hits went for extra bases, a double by Hunter Hughes (Jr. Tigard, Ore.) and a homerun by Trevor Johnson (Jr. San Diego, Calif.)
Saturday's game two actually stretched over two days. With the Bulldogs leading by three runs in the top of the seventh, the game was suspended due to failing light. The game was then restarted on Sunday morning and finished within 15 minutes with the Bulldogs picking up the win 14-11.
There was a lot of offense in game two. The Bulldogs scored their 14 runs on 11 hits led by multi-hit performances from Kyle Lux (Sr. Lewes, Del.) and Jonah Shabry (Jr. Boulder Creek, Calif.). Five of the 11 Bulldog hits were of the extra base variety including doubles by Shabry (2), Noah Nelson (Jr. Danville, Ill.) and Jake Pearson (Jr. Harrah, Okla.), and a solo homerun by Hunter Robinson (So. Edgewood, Texas).
On the mound, the Bulldogs employed a committee approach. Garrett Connor (Sr. Highlands Ranch, Colo.) got the ball first and worked the first two and a third. Will Shaw (Sr. Yoncalla, Ore.) was next out of the pen working an inning and two-thirds. Isaiah Vasquez (Jr. Montebello, Calif.) pitched fifth and sixth innings and was credited with the win because the Bulldogs took the lead while he was on the mound. In the seventh, the Bulldogs turned to their closer, Jarrod Manick (Sr. Aldergrove, B.C.), who retired the side in order and picked up his second save of the season.
After picking up the win in game two, the Bulldogs hoped to carry the momentum into the next game. They led 2-1 after the second inning, but from there the offense stalled, and Concordia rallied to score six unanswered runs to win 7-2.
Charles Munns (Jr. Roseville, Calif.), the game three starter, was credited with the loss after giving up three runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. The other four Concordia runs were spread between Mairion Brunken (Sr. Willemstad, Curacao) and Garrett Ham (Sr. Albuquerque, N.M.), out of the bullpen.
The Bulldog offense was paced by Nelson and Shabry, who both recorded two hits. Both of Shabry's hits were doubles, and one of Nelson's two hits was a solo homerun.
In the final game of the weekend, the Bulldogs were poised to earn the win, and clinch a series split. Thanks to an eight run third inning, they led Concordia 11-4 heading into the sixth. In Concordia's at bat in the sixth, they plated 16 runs on five hits, and blew the game wide open. The Bulldogs ended up dropping game four 20-12.
Concordia's pitchers had trouble with their control early on in the game leading the Bulldogs to score their 12 runs on only seven hits. Lux and Nelson had the hot bats for the Bulldog offense. Nelson was 2 for 5 with a pair of singles, and two RBI while Lux finished the game going 2 for 3 with a triple and a homerun.
The Bulldogs will try and put the memory of game four out of their minds quickly and regroup for this upcoming weekend. They will be travelling to Joplin, Missouri on Friday to take part in an invitational tournament. Weather permitting, they will play three games on Friday and then two more on Saturday.
