McPHERSON, Kan. (MacBulldogs.com) — The McPherson College Bulldogs comeback bid fell short in the opener, but then exploded for 38 runs over the next two games to win the series against the University of Saint Mary Spires at Bulldog Park this weekend.
GAME ONE – USM 15, MC 14
The Spires jumped out to a startling 9-2 lead after the first two innings of the opener, including a grand slam by Brendan Roop in the second. Kevinn Castillo doubled down the right field line to bring Dawson Walters and Jorge Olivo around to score.
An RBI single by Dylan Hampton briefly cut into the lead, but another homer by Roop, this one a two-run shot, pushed the lead back to 11-3 after four innings.
Again, it was Hampton who trimmed the lead in the fifth with a solo blast to left field, sparking the comeback.
MC loaded the bases in the sixth before Ivan Gomez scored on a passed ball. Castillo pulled the Bulldogs within 11-8 with a three-run homer, his first of the weekend.
The Bulldogs leveled the score in the bottom of the seventh. Peyton Starr got the inning going with an RBI single to score Ky’rell Taylor, then a sacrifice fly by Gomez brought Hayden Foster home. The final run of the inning came when Andres Artola drew a walk with the bases loaded.
But, the Spires got their offense back in the eighth, scoring four runs to take a 15-11 advantage.
MC made one last push in the bottom of the ninth after a solo homer by Artola, and a two-run shot by Hampton pulled them within one. But, the comeback bid would fall short.
Castillo finished 3-for-6 at the plate, while driving in five runs and scoring twice. Hampton added three hits with four RBIs, while Artola had three hits and two RBIs.
Noah Carpenter came on in relief and threw 5.2 innings with seven strikeouts, while allowing just two runs on three hits.
GAME TWO – MC 21, USM 2
MC carried their offensive momentum into the night cap, scoring nine runs in the first, two in the second and ten runs in the third.
The Bulldogs quickly loaded the bases in the bottom of the first before Hampton drew a walk to score first. An RBI single by Kainoa Torres brought Walters and Castillo around to score. Gomez kept the inning going with an RBI single to right field, scoring two runs. MC got two more thanks to an error by the short stop, then Artola doubled to left center to drive in Olivo and Taylor.
In the second, Hampton led off with a single up the middle before scoring on a triple by Foster, then an RBI single by Gomez brought Foster home.
But the Bulldogs weren’t done yet. A two-run shot to left center field by Walters made it a 13-0 Bulldog lead, then a double by Gomez brought Jace Essig and Hampton to the plate. Taylor kept things going with a single to left field in the next at-bat, scoring Foster.
An RBI single by Artola pushed the lead to 18-0, before back-to-back home runs by Walters and Hampton rounded out the scoring for MC.
The Bulldogs scored 21 runs on 18 hits, and benefitted from five Spire errors.
Walters led the way, going 2-for-3 with four RBIs, three runs scored, and two home runs, while Hampton went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a homer of his own. Foster was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, while Gomez finished 3-for-5 with a team-high five RBIs.
Noah Thomas threw four hitless innings, with three strikeouts to pick up the win.
GAME THREE – MC 17, USM 4
The Bulldogs carried the offensive onslaught into Sunday, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first, before adding five more in the second and four in the third.
Castillo opened the scoring with a two-run home run to left field. Foster kept things going with an RBI single to right field, scoring Essig and Artola. Taylor wrapped up the first inning with a double to centerfield, scoring two more.
A solo homer by Castillo in his next at-bat, got the second inning going before an RBI double to left field by Foster made it an 8-0 Bulldogs edge. Collin Evers pushed the lead to 11 with a three-run blast.
Walters opened the third inning with an RBI single to left field, scoring Castillo, then another three-run homer by Evers made it a 15-0 Bulldogs lead.
The Spires scored in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Caleb McClellan, but Evan Morrison answered with a two-run home run to centerfield.
The Bulldogs hit five home runs in the closer, two apiece coming from Castillo and Evers. Evers drove in six runs, while Foster and Castillo added three RBIs each.
Hayden Casey got the call on the mound for the Bulldogs in game three, throwing 4.0 innings with four strikeouts.
The Bulldogs are back at Bulldog Park on Tuesday (Mar. 5) as they host Southwestern Christian University. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
