McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College baseball team pushed their current winning streak to 10 games, sweeping the University St. Mary Spires out at Bulldog Park on Saturday and Sunday.
The Bulldogs opened the weekend with a gritty 6-4 win in game one on Saturday, then got the bats rolling in game two winning 11-2. The two teams reconvened at the ballpark on Sunday to wrap up the series. The Bulldogs kept their foot on the gas winning the series finale 12-2 in a game that featured seven homeruns by the Bulldog hitters.
Alex Escobar got the start on the mound in game one and moved to 6-0 on the year. He went seven and a third allowing four runs on four hits with six punch-outs and just one walk. With an inning and two-thirds of work out of the bullpen, Justin Lockey was credited with the save.
Noah Nelson led the Bulldog offense with a 3 for 4 performance that included a double and a solo homerun. Jake Pearson and Gage Ninness also recorded multiple hits in the opener.
The Bulldog bats stayed hot in the second game, scoring 11 runs on 16 hits. Pearson, Trevor Johnson, and Caleb Feuerstake each recorded three hits. Johnson had a double, Feuerstake a triple, and Pearson a grandslam.
Zach Reynolds was the game two starter on the mound for the Bulldogs. He worked the first two innings, and was solid with no runs on no hits with four strikeouts and one walk. He didn't throw enough innings to factor into the decision. The win instead was credited to Noah Carpenter who worked the next two innings, also holding the Spires hitless and scoreless.
In the finale, the Bulldogs pounded out another 16 hits, leading to 12 runs. Ten of the 16 Bulldog hits went for extra bases including three doubles, and seven homeruns. In the seventh inning, the Bulldogs scored five runs including back to back to back homeruns. Leading by eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Sammy Grim led off the inning with a walk and then the Hunter Robinson entered the game as a pinch hitter. The Spires threw him a fast ball, and Robinson doesn't miss many fastballs. He took a big cut, put the barrel on the ball, and ended the game with a no doubter over the left center field wall.
Nelson led the Bulldog offense going 3 for 3, a triple shy of the cycle. Pearson and Kevinn Castillo also had multiple hits, Pearson with two homeruns, and Castillo with a single and a homerun.
Blake Maddock was on the bump for the Bulldogs in the finale. He moved to 2-0 on the year going six and a third scattering six hits and giving up just one earned run with nine strikeouts and just one walk.
Bulldog Head Coach, Kyle MacKinnon liked what he saw this weekend saying, "Great weekend from the Dogs. We continue to be led by outstanding starting pitching. Escobar and Maddock have paced us most weekends, allowing the staff to figure out how this pen works. The offense was explosive when needed this weekend. Another solid weekend rolling into one of the bigger weeks of the year!"
The Bulldogs are now 21-5 on the year, and 10-1 in KCAC play. They are currently in a tie atop the conference standings with Tabor and Ottawa the two teams they play this upcoming week. They are scheduled to go on a road Tuesday to play at Tabor and then are scheduled to play Ottawa in a three game series at home next weekend.
