Photo by David Ediger (Tabor SID)
Great Bend, Kan. – The McPherson College Baseball team opened up postseason play going 1-1 on day one of the KCAC conference tournament.
The Bulldog opened up the tournament with a one run loss to the Tabor College Bluejays. The Bulldogs got on the board in the bottom of the first, but then went scoreless for the next three innings. In the meantime, the Bluejays seized the lead with three runs in the top of the fourth, and then another in the fifth. The Bulldogs added a run in the bottom of the fifth to stay within two of the Bluejays, 4-2. In the sixth, Tabor tacked on two more runs to make it 6-2. In the bottom of the eighth, the Bulldogs put up a three spot to get back to within one, 6-5. Unfortunately the rally stalled there and the Bluejays escaped with the win, sending the Bulldogs down to the consolation bracket.
Blake Maddock was on the mound for the Bulldogs in the opener. He went six innings, giving up six runs on five hits with five strikeouts and five walks.
Offensively, the Bulldogs outhit the Bluejays 8-5, but the Bluejays did their damage with three homeruns while all of the Bulldog hits stayed in the yard. Caleb Feuerstake led the Bulldog offense, going 3 for 5 with a triple, an RBI, and a run scored. The only other extra base hit was a double by James Canar.
A few hours after the loss to the Bluejays, the Bulldog were back on the diamond again, taking on the Friends University Falcons in an elimination game.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 4-0 lead with four runs in the top of the second inning, but then gave three of those runs back an inning later. Gage Ninness made it 5-3 with a solo homerun on the top of the fourth inning. The Bulldogs had a shaky bottom of the sixth inning, allowing the Falcons to tie the game with a pair of runs and seize the momentum. The Bulldogs regrouped and in the top of the eighth retook the lead when Kevinn Castillo hit a two run homerun off the scoreboard in left center field. They added a third run in the inning making the score 8-5. Neither team scored in the ninth inning and the Bulldogs survived, staying alive in the tournament.
Alex Escobar got the start and worked the first six innings. He gave up five runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks. He left the game after the sixth inning with the score tied so he didn't factor into the decision. The win would ultimately go to Justin Lockey who came out of the bull pen and worked the final three innings. He held the Falcons scoreless, scattering two hits.
Offensively the Bulldogs pounded out 14 hits, with five players each recording two hits. Besides the homeruns by Ninness and Castillo, the Bulldogs had five other extra base hits, all doubles from Feruerstake, Trevor Johnson, James Canar, Jake Pearson, and Noah Nelson.
"It was a hard fought day for the Dogs," said Bulldog head coach Kyle MacKinnon. "Tabor squared up a couple of balls that really made the difference in game one. We fought back late which was good to see but came up a little short." He added, "In the Friends game, we played just okay. Nothing too extraordinary but made the plays and pitched well enough to lock down a win. Overall I think we still have a lot left in the tank with a long way to go!"
The Bulldogs still have a shot at a conference tournament title, but they have quite a bit of work left to do. They will square off with the Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes in another elimination game on Sunday afternoon starting at 1:00 pm
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