McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College baseball team completed the series sweep of St. Mary, winning game three on Sunday, 10-6 to move to 15-4 on the season, and 3-0 in KCAC play.
The Bulldogs won the three game series by winning the first two games on Saturday afternoon. They blew out the Spires in the opener 29-0, but then had to hang on in game two, holding off a late run by the Spires to win 10-9. In the finale on Sunday, the Spires refused to go down without a fight. They scored runs in five of the first six innings, forcing the Bulldogs to try and keep pace.
The Spires opened with a pair of runs in the top of the first, matched by the Bulldogs in their half of the inning. In the second, the Spires added another run in their at bat, once again matched by the Bulldogs in their next at bat. USM then took a 4-3 lead in the top of the third, but the Bulldogs broke the pattern, and put up three runs in the bottom of the third to take their first lead of the game, 6-4.
Both teams scored a single run in the fourth and both were shutout in the fifth to keep the Bulldog lead at two runs 7-5. The Spires cut the Bulldog lead to one with a run in the top of the sixth, and then held the Bulldogs off the scoreboard a half inning later. In the top of the seventh, the Spires were threatening again, and had the bases loaded with two outs, but the Bulldog defense stood tough, and got out of the jam.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Bulldog offense got on track again. They extended their lead to four by adding three more runs to the scoreboard. That would be all the offense they would need. The defense was up to the task, and shutout the Spires the rest of the way.
Garrett Connor (Sr. Highlands Ranch, Colo.) got the start on the bump for the Bulldogs, but didn't factor into the decision. He worked the first four innings, allowing five runs, only two of them earned, on five hits. Will Shaw (Sr. Yoncalla, Ore.) came out of the pen in the fifth inning, and went the rest of way. He gave up just one run, on a bases loaded balk call, on four hits, and was credited with the win.
On offense, the Bulldogs scored their ten runs on 15 hits, 14 of them singles. The lone extra-base hit was a double by Kris Perez (Sr. Miramar, Fla.). Trevor Johnson (Jr. San Diego, Calif.) and Kyle Lux (Sr. Lewes, Del.), again had the hot bats for the Bulldogs. Johnson finished the day 4 for 5 with two RBI, and Lux was 2 for 3 with a walk, and RBI, and one run scored.
Coach Moses commented on the series sweep saying, "St. Mary proved to be tough just like they are every year. They scratch, claw and fight hard. We were able to make pitches in key spots and pick up hits at the right time. Feels good to start conference play with 3 wins."
Next up for the Bulldogs is a trip west to Sterling, Kansas on Tuesday for a KCAC midweek match-up with the Sterling College Warriors. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
