MIDWEST CITY, Okla. – McPherson High School Baseball traveled to Midwest City, OK to play in a triangular at Carl Albert High School. The Bullpups won both games, defeating Carl Albert 9-6 in eight innings before coming from behind to defeat Midwest City 8-3.
Cade Strathman hit an RBI double to set the tone in the top of the first, highlighting a two-run first frame to lead 2-0. After two scoreless innings, McPherson extended their lead in the fourth on a Graham Prescott double to lead 3-0. The Bullpups added two more in the fifth on hits by Brady Rinker and Cowen Huggard.
McPherson went on to lead 5-0, but Carl Albert found ways to storm back, capitalizing on two doubles in the sixth frame to trail 5-2. Carl Albert then put the first four batters on base in the 7th, scoring on three hits and a walk. The Titans had the bases loaded out in a 5-5 tie, with the winning run on third base. Adrian Unruh stepped up to the pitchers mound, striking out the next better and forcing a fielder’s choice to send the game to extra innings.
Despite giving up five unanswered runs to have the game tied, McPherson used the momentum they sustained from keeping the game alive, putting up four runs in the top of the eighth. Two walks and a single loaded the bases with one out before Unruh was hit by a pitch to score the go-ahead run. Takoda Linn then drew a walk to lead 7-5, before a two-out error by Carl Albert brought home two McPherson runners, giving the Bullpups a 9-5 lead. Carl Albert had a two-out rally to bring a run aboard, but a ground ball into a fielder’s choice gave McPherson their first extra-inning win of the season.
Cru Buchman was the starting pitcher for McPherson, but earned a no-decision after throwing six innings, striking out five batters. Adrian Unruh earned the win on the mound.
The second matchup for McPherson featured a come-from-behind victory to defeat the Midwest City Bombers 8-3.
McPherson struck first, leading 1-0 in the 3rd after Carter Bengtson led off with a triple. He was then driven home by Cowen Huggard on a sacrifice fly. Midwest City tied the game on a double in the 4th inning. The Bombers sparked a rally in the fifth frame, putting the first two batters aboard on a hit and a walk. A passed ball gave Midwest City a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning, a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch put the Bombers up 3-1.
The Bullpups capitalized on a two-out error by Midwest City, bringing the game to within one run. They entered the 7th inning trailing 3-2, but rallied to put up six runs in the frame. Brady Rinker led off with a double before being driven home by Bengtson. McPherson then had four of the next five batters reach base on a walk, with two of them adding a run. A two-run double by Bengtson capped off the comeback effort to give McPherson the 8-3 lead.
Cade Strathman got the win, striking out 12 batters in six innings. Rinker closed off the win in the seventh inning, getting three strikeouts.
McPherson has won six games in a row and is now 18-4 on the season. McPherson will need to win just one of their final four games of the regular season to clinch a top four seed in the 4A West Regional standings, letting them host Regionals.
The Bullpups will be back in action at Great Bend on Friday, May 8. The day was originally scheduled as a quad, but has now moved to a triangular, with McPherson playing at 4:00 p.m. and approximately 6:00 p.m. against Junction City and Great Bend.
