Photo by Micah Gilbert
McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College baseball team dropped their first KCAC games of the season, losing both games of a double header to Ottawa University on Saturday out at Bulldog Park.
The conditions were brutal, with winds gusting to over 30 mph, giving the offenses the advantage. Runs came in bunches, and both games went down to the wire, decided by just one run. The Bulldogs lost the series opener 12-11, then fell in game two, 6-5.
Dylan Marble (Sr. Danville, Ill.) was the game one starter. He went five innings, giving up four runs on nine hits with eight strikeouts and just one walk. When he left in the sixth inning, he was staked to a 6-4 lead, but ultimately didn't factor into the decision. Will Shaw (Sr. Yancalla, Ore.) pitched the next three innings, allowing six runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Jarrod Manick (Sr. Aldergrove, B.C.) came on in the ninth with the game tied. He ended up allowing two runs on one hit with two strikeouts and three walks. When the Bulldog offense couldn't overcome the two run deficit in the ninth, Manick ended up collaring the loss.
Jonah Shabry (Jr. Boulder Creek, Calif.) led the Bulldog offense going 3 for 4 with a pair of singles and a double. Trevor Johnson (Jr. San Diego, Calif.) and Bo Slaymaker (So. Johnstown, Colo.) had the big hits for the Bulldog offense. Johnson went 2 for 5 on the day, but both of his hits were home runs, giving him three RBI in the game. Slaymaker came into the game in the fourth inning to play shortstop. He had two hits in his three at bats, including a two run home run.
The second game of the day didn't see as much offense, but the end was the same result, a one run loss, with a chance to tie or win the game in the final inning. Charles Munns (Jr. Roseville, Calif.) was the Bulldog starter on the mound. He pitched five solid innings giving up five runs on nine hits, and was credited with no decision. Isaiah Vasquez (Jr. Montebello, Calif.) came on in relief of Munns in the sixth inning. Vasquez worked the final two innings giving up just one run on one hit with four strikeouts. Unfortunately that one run broke a 5-5 tie giving the Braves a 6-5 win.
The Bulldog offense managed five runs on nine hits in game two, led by Shabry who was 2 for 3, and Kyle Lux (Sr. Lewes, Del.) who went 2 for 4 with a pair of singles and a walk. The Bulldogs hit two more home runs in game two, a solo shot by Kris Perez (Sr. Miramar, Fla.) and a two run jack from Jake Pearson (Jr. Harrah, Okla.)
The losses drop the Bulldogs to 16-6 overall on the season, and 4-2 in KCAC play. They will wrap up the series with Ottawa on Sunday in a single nine inning game beginning at 12 p.m.
