WICHITA, Kan. — The McPherson College Bulldogs made a huge statement this weekend, sweeping the series against the Friends University Falcons at West Side Athletic Field in Wichita, Kan.
With the sweep, the Bulldogs move into sixth place in the KCAC standings, and could move as high as fifth. The top eight qualify for the KCAC postseason tournament in Great Bend, Kan.
GAME ONE – McPherson 3, Friends 1 (10 innings)
Runs were hard to come by for both teams in the opener, but Andres Artola put the Bulldogs on top 1-0 early with a solo blast to left field in the top of the first.
The Falcons had plenty of baserunners, stranding nine, including three in the first three innings. Friends looked poised to tie the game in the third after a one-out triple by DJ Killion, but Hayden Casey struck out the next two batters to keep the lead at 1-0.
Friends knotted the score in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single by Niquan Benjamin, then threatened in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with just one out. Noah Carpenter struck out Sam Engberg for the second out, then a fly out by Buster Hardman forced extra innings.
Colin Evers reached on a fielder's choice then Jace Essig was hit by the pitch, putting two runners on with just one out. Another fielder's choice by Luke Nordean advanced the runners, setting the stage for a two-run double by Evan Morrison.
Broc Selstrom came on in the bottom of the tenth and retired the Falcons in order to pick up the save.
MC scored three runs on seven hits. Morrison was the lone Bulldog with multiple hits, finishing 4-for-5 at the plate with a pair of RBIs.
Casey threw seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, while allowing just six hits and no walks.
GAME TWO – McPherson 14, Friends 5
The Bulldogs bats came alive in game two, scoring 14 runs on 15 hits.
Friends took a 3-0 lead, scoring one run in each of the first three innings, including a solo home run by Carlos Rodriguez.
But from there the Bulldogs took over. Colin Evers got things started with a grand slam in the fourth, then Peyton Starr joined in with a three-run blast in the sixth to put MC on top 9-3.
An RBI single to centerfield by Jace Essig drove in Evers in the seventh, but the Falcons answered with an RBI single of their own from Zeke Henson to stop the Bulldogs onslaught.
However, a pair of two-run doubles in the top of the ninth by Kainoa Torres and Starr pushed the Bulldogs lead to 14-4.
Starr finished the game with four hits, and five RBIs, while Evers added two hits and four RBIs. Torres, Essig, Artola, and Hayden Foster each finished with two hits.
Jameson Caro threw seven innings with four strikeouts, while allowing nine hits and two runs. Dylan Hampton came on in relief and finished the game, striking out three batters.
GAME THREE – McPherson 8, Friends 3
The Bulldog carried that momentum into the nightcap of the doubleheader, grabbing a 2-0 lead after a pair of RBI singles by Artola and Dawson Walters in the first inning.
Nijai Armbrister cut the lead in half in the third inning with an RBI single of his own, but a solo blast by Starr in the next half-inning pushed the lead to 3-1.
Again the Falcons pulled within one in the fourth inning, when Benjamin scored on a sacrifice fly by Killion, but the Bulldogs answered with two in the fifth, including an RBI double by Starr to make it a 6-2 Bulldog lead.
Friends added one in the fifth, but a single in the sixth by Nordean drove in JT Edmunds made the score 7-3. The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the seventh, but only scored one.
Starr finished game three 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs, while Morrison, Walters and Nordean each had two hits apiece.
Carson Cornelius drew the start for the Bulldogs, and threw four innings with three strikeouts, while allowing just two runs.
The Bulldogs are in action for the final time in the regular season this weekend against Sterling College.
