JOPLIN, Mo. — In a matchup where both teams played each other very tough in the regular season series, the Bulldogs came out on top against the Ottawa Braves on Thursday (May 1) thanks to stellar pitching and timely hitting.
The first pair of runs scored in the contest were pushed across by the Bulldogs.
Jace Essig used his speed to capitalize on a wild pitch in the top half of the first inning as he made it 1-0.
Peyton Starr added onto the lead with an RBI single in the third as Essig once again utilized his wheels to make it 2-0 for the Bulldogs.
Daniel Norris got the starting nod for MC and he did not disappoint in the slightest. Going up against a top three offense in the KCAC, Norris pitch six full innings of shutout innings as he kept the Ottawa bats off balance by changing speeds and moving the ball all around the zone. Ottawa finally broke through in the seventh with a two run homerun to tie the game up. Norris finished his start with eight strikeouts while only surrendering three hits, two earned runs and one walk.
It didn't take long for the Bulldogs to respond in a big way. Starr once again came through in a big spot as he launched a long solo homerun into center field as MC got back the lead in the top of the eighth. A sacrifice fly for Ottawa in the bottom half of the eighth tied the game up again, but a massive miscue by Ottawa gave MC back the lead as a balk in the top of the ninth brought home
Koen Gakstatter to make it a 4-3 lead for MC.
Needing three outs, MC turned to Fransisco Paradis like they have all year to get them. With a pair of strikeouts and a flyout to right field, he did just that as the MC held on to secure the win.
The Bulldogs face off against two seeded Kansas Wesleyan on Friday, May 2 with the first pitch being set for 12:15 p.m. If the Bulldogs are able to secure a victory over the Coyotes, they will need just one more win to advance to the KCAC championship game.
