Kansas City, Mo. – The McPherson College Baseball team improved to 26-7 overall, and 15-3 in KCAC play, going 2-1 this weekend against the Avila University Eagles. The Bulldogs clinched the series by winning game one, 7-6 then taking game two, 12-5. They had a misstep in the series finale, getting shut out for only the second time this season, 3-0.
The Bulldogs trailed for nearly all of game one before coming back and tying the game at 6-6 in the 8th inning then taking the lead in the top of the tenth and then getting out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the tenth to escape with the win.
Alex Escobar got the start for the Bulldogs on the bump, but had a rough outing. He went two and a third, allowing six runs on 10 hits with two strikeout and one walk. It became a bullpen game from the third inning on, and Broc Selstrom was on the mound when the Bulldogs finally took the lead in the tenth and was credited with the win. He pitched two and a third innings of scoreless, hitless ball. Justin Lockey picked up the save, his fourth of the season, pitching the bottom of the tenth, and despite walking two hitters was able to secure the win for the Bulldogs.
Gage Ninness, Jake Pearson, and Kevinn Castillo led the Bulldog offense in game one. Niness was 3 for 6 with three singles and one run scored, while Pearson was 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored. Castillo had the big bat for the Bulldogs going 3 for 5 with a double, and two homeruns, finishing with three runs batted in.
After the scare in game one, the Bulldogs left no doubt in game two. They led the Eagles 12-4, in the top of the sixth, when the game was suspended due to darkness. The teams resumed play at 12:00 on Sunday, and the Bulldogs finished off the Eagles 12-5.
Jacob Gilcrease got the start in game two. Normally a bullpen guy, Gilcrease worked the first three innings, holding the Eagles hitless and scoreless. He had good command, striking out three and walking none. Despite only working three innings, the official scorer credited him with the win.
Fourteen different Bulldogs came to the plate in game two. Castillo, Trevor Johnson, Sammy Grim, and Tony Hyrnkiw all had multiple hits in the contest. Grim came off the bench and went 3 for 3 with a run scored and Hyrnkiw was 3 for 4 with two doubles, and an RBI. The Bulldogs had two more homeruns in game two, one by Johnson and the other off the bat of Jake Pearson.
Everything came to a screeching halt for the Bulldog offense in the series finale. They managed only four hits in the 3-0 loss, two of them from Hunter Robinson who went 2 for 4 with a single and a double.
Blake Maddock was on the hill for the Bulldogs. He went seven innings, allowing three runs, two of them earned, on four hits with eight strikeouts. That effort would normally be good enough, but with the offense struggling as it did it resulted in Maddock's first loss of the season.
Coach MacKinnon summed up the weekend saying, "I thought we battled all weekend, especially in the box. We pitched well enough all three games to give us a shot to win, but came up short offensively in the third game. We will take a road series win, and look to get back in the win column Tuesday. Credit to Avila who played well all weekend."
Next up for the Bulldogs, they will travel to Hillsboro, Kansas on Tuesday for game two of the three game midweek series with the Tabor College Bluejays. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
