SALINA, Kan. – McPherson High School Baseball used a two-out rally in the seventh inning to defeat Pratt in the 4A State Quarterfinal, 4-3, at Dean Evans Stadium in Salina.
The first four innings featured a pitchers’ duel between McPherson’s Cru Buchman and Pratt’s Caleb Strong. Offense was hard to come by for McPherson early on. The Bullpups were able to lead off with a baserunner in the first two innings via a walk and hit-by-pitch, but neither runner was able to score.
McPherson finally showed signs of life on offense in the fourth inning, loading the bases on a walk, hit-by-pitch, and a bunt-single, which was McPherson’s first hit of the game. However, two strikeouts and a fly out ended the inning without any runs crossing the plate.
The scoreless tie carried into the fifth, where Pratt struck first with a two-out two-run single by Cresten Pore, giving Pratt a 2-0 lead. The Greenbacks kept that lead until the bottom of the sixth inning, before Carter Bengtson led off the frame with a triple and was driven home by Cade Strathman.
Strathman entered the mound in the seventh inning, but he gave up one run on a hit, a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and an error. Pratt had the bases loaded with two outs, but a strikeout ended the inning to leave three stranded, making the score 3-1 Pratt heading to the bottom of the 7th.
Pratt had Josiah Schmidt on the mound, looking to earn the save for the Greenbacks. He retired the first two batters on a pair of strikeouts, leaving McPherson down to their final out of the season. Then the rally began.
Carter Bengtson started it off with a popped up hit to shallow left field, which fell between two defenders for a double. Brady Rinker then had a two-strike count, but drove home Bengtson on a single to make the score 3-2 Pratt. Then, Cowen Huggard delivered a hard-hit ball in the left-center field gap, hitting a double to drive home Rinker to tie the game, 3-3.
Carter Melton then entered to pinch-run for Huggard, representing him as the winning run. Strathman was subsequently hit by a pitch and Graham Prescott drew a walk to load the bases for McPherson with two outs. Buchman then stood in, delivering a hit to left field to drive home Melton, walking off the game to give McPherson the 4-3 victory.
The win advances McPherson to the State Semifinals, which will be held at Tointon Family Stadium in Manhattan, home to K-State Baseball. The tournament semifinals and finals were scheduled to take place at Hoglund Ballpark in Lawrence, but that stadium will host the NCAA Regionals, prompting the move.
The Bullpups will play the winner between Mulvane and Bishop Miege on Thursday, May 28 at 11:00 a.m.
