McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College Baseball team is hosting the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles in an important three game series this weekend out at Bulldog Park. The Bulldogs got the series started off on a good note, taking game one on Friday 2-1.
With a stiff wind out of the northwest, blowing in from leftfield straight across the diamond, there was a strong likelihood that the fans weren't going to see the same kind of offensive production they normally see at Bulldog Park. That would prove true as the two teams combined for three runs on 13 hits.
It turned out to be a pitchers' duel. The OKWU starting pitcher, Oracio De Leon, threw a complete game giving up two runs on four hits. The Bulldogs had good at bats against him as evidenced by the fact that they only struck out three times, but almost all contact went directly at an OKWU defender.
On the mound for the Bulldogs was Alex Escobar. He moved to 7-0 on the year, going six innings and allowing just one run on six hits. He gave up two free passes, but fanned eight in route to the win. In the final three innings, with a 2-1 lead, the Bulldogs brought in four pitchers out of the pen, including Isaiah Vazquez, Jace Mapston, Broc Selstrom, and Nathan Ruble. All four came up big, doing the job asked of them, to keep the Eagles off the scoreboard. Ruble worked the final inning and a third and was credited with a save, his first of the season.
Offensively, the four Bulldogs hits came off of four different bats. Gage Ninness, Trevor Johnson, Jake Pearson, and James Canar all recorded a hit. Pearson had the big hit for the Bulldogs, a solo homerun in the fourth inning, tying the game at one. He also drove in the game winning run when his pop fly in the sixth inning was dropped in shallow center field, allowing Sammy Grim to score.
The win moves the Bulldogs to 27-8 on the year, and 16-4 in KCAC action. They will take the field again for two more games with the Eagles on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 12:00 pm.
