McPherson, Kan – The Bulldogs hosted the Tabor College Bluejays on Wednesday afternoon for a single nine-inning ballgame. McPherson came into the contest off of their first series sweep of the year over Avila, while Tabor picked up a series victory over Oklahoma Wesleyan in Bartlesville, OK.
The Basics
Location: TC Construction at Bulldog Park
Records: MC 8-11 (5-3 KCAC), TC 12-10 (8-3 KCAC)
Score: MC 4, TC 3
How it Happened
Facing inclement weather on Tuesday afternoon, this would be a makeup of the postponed ballgame from a day prior. The Bulldogs would use seven pitchers throughout this game, combining for 12 strikeouts on 37 batters faced and allowing just one earned run off of five hits.
Marcus Patton opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first after his single up the middle to send home Jaylon Woodley for the 1-0 lead. Troy Stukenberg managed to drive home Patton with an RBI double later in the inning to stretch the lead to 2-0. The Bluejays run in the fourth inning came from a passed ball behind the plate to cut the lead in half at 2-1.
Austin Easter matched it with a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning over the left field fence for the 3-1 advantage. Later in the fourth, Ky’rell Taylor baited a throw from behind the plate to second on a stolen base attempt; not only was Taylor safe at second, but pinch runner Jaiden Diasio, who was waiting patiently at third, scored on the throw to extend the lead to 4-1.
In the fifth, Easton Norris drove home Jack Kiser on an RBI single to minimize the deficit to 4-2. In the next inning, Tabor scored on a bizarre play where the ball failed to hit off the bat. A failed pickoff attempt on Kaison Overbey sailed into right field; waiting at second base, Jared Mack rounded the bases and scored on the throw home to bring the game to within one run.
After two scoreless innings, Chris Jackson closed for the Bulldogs and was lights out. Jackson struck out two batters and a groundout to Woodley at short stop gave McPherson the 4-3 victory. Hudson La Barbera was credited with the win while Chris Jackson earned his save in the top of the ninth inning.
Up Next
McPherson will hit the road this weekend to face the Friends University Falcons for a three-game series. First pitch is set for 4:00 PM on March 6th at West Side Athletic Field in Wichita, KS.
