McPherson, Kan – Over the weekend, McPherson College hosted Northwestern College for a three-game series following their trip to Miami, Florida. This would be Northwestern’s season-opener while the Bulldogs sought after their first win of the season in their home-opener.
The Basics
Location: TC Construction Field at Bulldog Park
Records: MC 1-6, NC 2-1
Game One
It was a similar start for the Bulldogs in their first matchup with the Raiders; just as they had gone up four runs over Keiser early in their final game in the Sunshine State, McPherson’s Jared Kramp blasted a ball out to right field in the bottom of the third to bring home three runs. Adding onto Myles Vazquez’s RBI single in the same inning, McPherson held a 4-0 lead heading into the fourth.
From then on, Northwestern would go on to score 17 unanswered runs. Nick Wede and Ranier Castillo led the way in the batter’s box as each of them batted in three runs.
The Bulldogs managed to rally together a couple of runs in the 8th inning, but Northwestern cruised in Game One with a series-opening 18-10 victory over McPherson. Offensively, the Bulldogs’ efficiency was found from Myles Vazquez as he would go 3-5 at the plate.
Game Two
Northwestern carried their dominance into the Saturday matchups for Game Two. The Raiders took the lead with the opening four runs of the ball game; the run was sparked by two Northwestern home runs that sent home three total runs, capped off with an RBI double from Isaac Short for the 4-0 lead. McPherson’s first run of the game was found in the bottom of the second after an RBI single from Will Sevier.
The Bulldogs tried to find an answer on the mound with the six pitchers they had trotted out to throw, but Northwestern batted like a well-oiled machine and ran away with the game early on.
Colt Uphold and Will Sevier each had two hits and an RBI, followed by Jaylon Woodley who was 1-3 in the game with an RBI accompanying. Northwestern’s Ranier Castillo was unstoppable at the plate, batting 5-6 and batting home five runs for the Raiders in Game Two. Northwestern took this one 19-6 over the Bulldogs.
Game Three
Myles Vazquez came up big time for the Bulldogs in the final game of this series. The Brooklyn, NY native had two home runs on the day and brought home four runs for McPherson in their first win of the season. Matthew Vigil was credited with the win on the mound following up Kadin Gehring’s eight-strikeout performance. Vigil had thrown for just over an inning and gave up one hit with one run. Hunter Boneau was given credit for his save after throwing three strikeouts in the top of the 7th inning.
Potentially the highlight of Game Three was Ky’rell Taylor’s solo shot in the bottom of the 5th with Northwestern holding the lead at 4-2. Taylor’s second hit of the season would be a solo home run that sparked a five-run inning, as the Bulldogs went on to hold a 7-4 lead following the completion of the 5th.
Up Next
McPherson College will host Hastings College on Wednesday for a nine-inning makeup game that sprouted from a series cancellation on the weekend of January 31st. First pitch at TC Construction Field is set for 2:00 PM on February 11th.
