Photo by Jakob Komel
Sterling, Kan. – The McPherson College baseball team, ranked #24 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, moved to 4-1 in conference play, going on the road to defeat Sterling College 10-5, on a blustery Kansas afternoon.
The nine inning game was tied twice, but the Bulldogs never trailed. They led the Warriors 2-0 after scoring single runs in each of the first two innings. Sterling tied the game 2-2 in the third, but the Bulldogs retook the lead 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Sterling scored two in the fifth to tie the game again 4-4. In the top of the seventh, the Bulldogs got a little breathing room, scoring three runs to retake the lead 7-4. The Bulldogs added two more in the eighth and then a tenth run in the ninth to lead 10-4. Sterling got a late run in the bottom of the ninth, but their rally quickly stalled and the Bulldogs left Sterling with a 10-5 win.
On the mound, it was pitching by committee for the Bulldogs. They started with Blake Maddock on the bump. He worked the first two innings, holding the Warriors scoreless on two hits. He finished with three strikeouts and one walk. The win ended up going to Jacob Gilcrease, who came out of the bullpen and worked the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. He held the Warriors hitless and finished with five strikeouts.
Offensively the Bulldogs scored 10 runs on 10 hits, fueled by seven extra base hits including three that left the yard. Trevor Johnson, James Canar, and Hayden Foster had multiple hits, and each had a homerun. Johnson and Canar were 2-4, and Foster went 3-4.
Overall, the Bulldogs are now 14-5 on the season. They are scheduled to be back on the diamond this weekend for a three game series Saturday and Sunday, on the road at Bethany College.
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