GREAT BEND, Kan. — The McPherson College Bulldogs advanced to the KCAC Championship for the second time in three seasons after knocking off the fifth-seeded Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles Friday (May 5) 9-2 at the Great Bend Sports Complex.
"What a win for the Dogs!" co-interim head coach Pete Horner said. "The offense came out hot, and Alex Escobar pitched the game of his life."
Dawson Walters went a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate to lead the Bulldogs (35-14, 26-7 KCAC) with three singles, two doubles, and an RBI. Andres Artola drove in a team-high three runs on two hits.
Alex Escobar was excellent for the Bulldogs throwing 8.1 innings, allowing just four hits and three walks. He finished the game with four strikeouts to secure his sixth win of the season.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a fast start, putting up four runs to open the game after Hunter Robinson and Caleb Feuerstake led off with base hits. Robinson came around to score on a groundball by Antonio Fernandez, then Kevinn Castillo scored Feuerstake with an RBI single to left field. Walters kept the big inning going with a single up the middle, then Andres Artola singled to center field, scoring two.
Two more runs came across in the bottom of the second frame thanks to an RBI single by Castillo and a run-scoring double by Walters. Then Feuerstake hit his second home run in as many games, a solo shot to right field in the fourth inning. Artola made it a 9-0 Bulldog advantage later in the fourth with a base hit to center field, scoring Fernandez.
From there, the Bulldogs made enough plays down the stretch to seal the victory, including back-to-back strikeouts by Broc Seltrom to end the game.
"These guys have played their tails off to put themselves in the position they are now in. The mission is pretty simple for tomorrow. Just win! Find a way to kick that door down."
The Bulldogs advance to Saturday's championship, needing just one win to secure their first KCAC Tournament Championship title in program history. They will square off against the top-seeded Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes at 11 a.m., with two opportunities to grab the one win needed.
