Photo by Jakob Komel
McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College baseball team won their fourth KCAC series, their biggest to date, 2-1 over the Ottawa University Braves, at the friendly confines of Bulldog Park, this weekend.
In the latest NAIA rankings that were released earlier in the week, Ottawa had moved up two spots to no. 12 and the Bulldogs made a five spot jump to no. 19. The Braves were also sitting in the top spot in the KCAC standings, and the Bulldogs were right behind them at no. 2.
The Bulldogs and Braves opened the series with a double header on Saturday. The Bulldogs took game one, 12-6, but the Braves responded by evening the series at a game apiece, winning game two, 11-3. The two teams resumed the series on Sunday afternoon and the Bulldogs won a thriller 4-3 in the bottom of the tenth inning.
In the first game, the Bulldogs scored 12 runs on 12 hits. They had to come from behind, out-scoring the Braves 11-3 in the final four innings of the game. Four of the 12 Bulldog hits went for extra bases, all of them doubles. James Canar and Hayden Foster paced the Bulldog offense. Canar was 2 for 5 with three RBI while Foster finished 2 for 4 with two doubles, three runs scored, and another run driven in.
Alex Escobar got the start on the mound for the Bulldogs in game one. He put in five strong innings of work, allowing three runs on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks. He unfortunately didn't factor into the decision as he was lifted with the game tied at three. The Bulldogs used three pitchers, Broc Selstrom, Jacob Gilcrease, and Justin Lockey, out of the bullpen for the final 12 outs. Selstrom worked the sixth and seventh innings, shutting out the braves on two hits. The Bulldogs retook the lead while he was on the mound so he was credited with the win. Two of the six outs he recorded were punch-outs. Lockey worked the final inning and two-thirds and was credited with the save. Even though the Bulldogs ended up winning by a six run margin, when he entered the game, they had just a two run lead, thus the reason for the save.
The second game was looking good for the Bulldogs through four innings. Trevor Johnson hit his eighth homerun of the year to put the Bulldogs up 3-2 heading into the fifth inning. Unfortunately the wheels came off the bus in the top of the fifth when the Braves broke the game open with a seven run inning. They added two more in the seventh, and the Bulldogs couldn't recover.
The Bulldogs recorded five hits in game two, all of them by different hitters. Johnson's homerun was the only extra base hit recorded by the Bulldog hitters. Foster, Jake Pearson, Kevinn Castillo, and Gage Ninness were the other four Bulldogs to record a hit in game two.
On the bump, the Bulldogs deployed four pitchers starting with Julio Acosta. He had a solid performance going three innings and allowing two runs on two hits with four strikeouts and three free passes. Rolando Fletes was the first out of the bullpen and ended up being collared with the loss. He was credited with giving up the seven runs in the fifth inning. Zach Reynolds and Robbie Schmidt got the final seven outs out of the bullpen.
The final game of the series lived up to the billing. The Braves opened the game with a solo homerun in the top of the first inning. The Bulldogs responded with three runs in the bottom of the second on a two out rally. Hunter Robinson got the Bulldogs on the board when he scored on from third a wild pitch, with the bases loaded, after being hit by a pitch to start the inning. With runners at second and third, Caleb Feuerstake singled up the middle to drive in Foster and Ninness, putting the boys in white up 3-1. The score would remain the same until the top of the ninth when the Braves seized the momentum by scoring two runs and tying the game at three. The Bulldogs had a chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth. They had Foster at second with two outs, and Ninness at the dish. Ninness hit a ground ball down the first base line. The Braves' first baseman made a diving play to his left to stop the ball and then stepped on first base to end the Bulldog threat.
In the top of the tenth, the Braves threatened with the bases loaded and just one out, but Lockey got a punch-out and a ground out to end the threat. In the Bulldogs' next at bat, Feuerstake led off with a walk, and then went to second on a wild pitch. With Trevor Johson at the plate and first base open, the Braves elected to intentionally walk the Bulldogs' all-time homerun leader. Next up was James Canar, with the winning run 180 feet away. He just missed a fast ball early in the at bat, then swung and missed a high fast ball for strike three. Pearson stepped to the plate with one out, and was hit by a fastball up and in, loading the bases for the DH Hunter Robinson. On a 3-2 pitch, Robison lined a ball into center field. It was just deep enough to allow the speedy Feuerstake to tag up and score the winning run.
Blake Maddock got the start on the bump. He worked the first six innings, giving up just one run on three hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Jace Mapston came out of the bullpen in the seventh, and had his best performance of the season. He threw two innings, holding the Braves hitless and scoreless and getting four of his six outs via the strikeout. Nathan Ruble and Noah Carpenter combined to pitch the ninth inning. Ruble was charged with two runs on two hits. Lockey pitched the tenth, and picked up the win, his third of the season.
Canar and Ninness led the Bulldog offense, each recording two hits. All of the six Bulldog hits were singles.
"What an outstanding weekend for the dogs baseball program," said Bulldog skipper Kyle MacKinnon. "To have an outstanding Ottawa team come in, and challenge us in every facet, and for our guys to respond the way they did, was fantastic. We pitched it well all weekend minus and inning or two, and Ottawa took advantage. Our offense was put to the test as we saw the best rotation we have seen all year, and to scratch out two victories, shows how deep this team really is."
After the weekend, the Bulldogs are now 23-6 overall, and 12-2 in the KCAC. Unfortunately the Tabor College Bluejays swept the St. Mary Spires this weekend jumping over the Bulldogs for first place in the KCAC standings with an 11-1 record. The Bulldogs will be back at home on Tuesday, hosting the Sterling College Warriors at 2:00 pm.
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