Photo by Natalia Ahrens
McPherson, Kan. – After a tough loss on the road on Monday, the McPherson College baseball team was back in the friendly confines of Bulldog Park on Tuesday for a doubleheader against cross town rival Central Christian College. The Bulldogs handled their business against their foes from the south side of town, sweeping the Tigers 14-1 and 8-1.
In game one, it was the long ball that powered the Bulldogs to the victory. The Bulldogs hit four homeruns including three in the bottom of the second inning and a grand slam by Malik Bond that capped of an eight run inning in the third. In total, the Bulldogs scored their 14 runs on 12 hits, five of them extra base hits. The Bulldogs were led by James Canar, who finished the game 3 for 4 with a pair of singles and a two run home run, Kyle Lux, who went 2 for 3 with a double and a home run, and Tyler Wood, who was a perfect 2 for 2 from the dish and had three stolen bases.
It was pitching by committee against the Tigers on Tuesday. The Bulldogs employed four pitchers starting with Tyler Norris, followed by Isaiah Vasquez, Jake Herman, and Darby Gilbert. Norris went the first two and a third holding the Tigers scoreless on one hit, but didn't factor into the decision. Vasquez worked the next inning and two-thirds holding the Tigers hitless and scoreless with three strikeouts and three walks. Herman worked the fifth and sixth innings, allowing just one hit and giving up the only run to the Tigers, an unearned run in the sixth. Gilbert came on for the final inning closing out the game by striking out the side.
The Bulldogs kept the momentum rolling in game two. They scored eight runs on five hits including another two run home from Bond. Five different Bulldogs registered hits three singles, a double from Noah Nelson, and Bond's homerun.
On the bump, four more Bulldog pitchers saw action against the Tigers. Charles Munns got the start, working the first three innings. He held the Tigers scoreless and hitless while striking out five, but didn't factor into the decision. Instead, the win went to Brett Maddock, the second Bulldog pitcher. Maddock allowed one run on three hits and finished with three strikeouts and no walks.
Broc Selstrom came on in the seventh but faced just one hitter, who he walked. Jacob Gilcrease came in in relief of Selstrom and finished out the game facing four Tiger hitters and surrendering just one hit.
Coach Moses commented on the win saying, ""We got hits when it mattered and threw strikes. This was a good tune-up for our guys with Avila coming up on the weekend."
 With the wins, the Bulldogs move to 18-2 overall on the season. Next up is three game home series this weekend against the Avila University Eagles. The Bulldogs and Eagles will play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 12:00 pm and then finish up the series on Sunday with a single 9 inning game starting at 1:00 pm.
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