McPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson College Bulldogs opened their home schedule in style Monday (Feb. 20), knocking off the Park University Pirates 12-8 at Bulldog Park.
Things looked grim for the Bulldogs early on, falling into a 4-0 hole in the top of the first inning, including a three-run homer from Zayne Morrow.
But the Bulldogs rallied in the third when back-to-back singles by Gage Ninness and Caleb Feuerstake set the stage for Antonio Fernandez to drive them home with a double to center field.
Hunter Robinson kept the inning going with a single through the left side, then Andres Artola brought Fernandez home with a sacrifice fly. Kevinn Castillo closed out the four-run third inning with a single up the middle to drive in pinch-runner Ky'rell Taylor.
The Pirates tacked on one more in the fourth, but another four-run frame by the Bulldogs gave them a lead they would not lose, thanks to an RBI double by Robinson and an RBI single by Artola.
But the Bulldogs weren't done in the scoring column yet, adding three more in the fifth to take an 11-5 lead.
Park made things interesting in the eighth, scoring three runs and threatening more, but Ricardo Hernandez lined out to Ninness to end the inning and seal the win for the Bulldogs.
"Good fight from our team to come back from the early deficit,' co-interim head coach Andrew Pratt said.
Robinson finished 4-for-5 at the dish and drove in three runs. Fernandez kept his hot streak going, driving in four runs with three hits, including a pair of doubles.
Darby Gilbert came on in relief, threw two hitless innings, and struck out three batters.
The Bulldogs are back in action with a four-game series in Chickasha, Okla. against the No. 19-ranked University of Science and Arts Oklahoma (USAO) Saturday and Sunday.
"Today was a step in the right direction, looking to continue on the right track this weekend at USAO," Pratt said.
