MANHATTAN, Kan. – A rain-delayed State Semifinal game at Tointon Family Stadium in Manhattan for McPherson High School Baseball saw them fall in walk-off fashion to Mulvane, 5-4.
The game started one hour and six minutes later than originally anticipated due to heavy rain conditions in the Manhattan area, but it held off just enough to see the first pitch just after noon. The game did see mostly misty conditions with off-and-on showers, providing a slippery turf surface.
The first two innings were scoreless between McPherson and Mulvane, two teams that had met once before and split in their regular season doubleheader back on April 17. McPherson struck first with a three-run third frame, which began on Carter Bengtson hitting a bunt-single, which brought home a run on an error. The Bullpups then had three straight hits, scoring two runs on a Cade Strathman single, tacked on with a Mulvane error.
Another Mulvane error put another run on the board for McPherson, giving the Bullpups a 4-0 lead after four innings. McPherson’s success at the plate came with Mulvane starter Hagan Warkins on the mound. The Wildcats brought in future Louisville Cardinal baseball player Parker Clubb on the mound, where he took care of the rest of the fourth inning. He ended up pitching the remainder of the game, not allowing a hit and striking out five batters.
Mulvane started pushing back, as they were able to capitalize on a defensive error by McPherson in the fifth inning, as Grady Myers hit a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-1 McPherson. Then Mulvane had two runners aboard in the sixth inning, scoring two runs on a hit by Brody Clasen, where he then was able to score himself on a pair of defensive errors on the same play.
After McPherson was unable to turn it around to break the tie, Mulvane made their way back to the plate with a chance to win. McPherson’s starting pitcher Cade Strathman struck out the first two batters, but Mulvane loaded the bases on two hits and a walk. Warkins then entered with the bases loaded, delivering the game-winning hit in the seventh inning on a single to center field, winning the game for Mulvane, 5-4.
McPherson falls to 24-6 on the season, while Mulvane improves to 27-1. McPherson will play in the Third Place game at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 29 at Tointon Family Stadium. Mulvane will follow for the State Title game. Both teams will play either Paola or Topeka-Hayden.
