Salina, Kan – After the No. 1 seeded Kansas Wesleyan defeated No. 4 Friends University in the elimination bracket, the Bulldogs would face the Coyotes for the fifth time this season and the second consecutive time in the KCAC Tournament. McPherson defeated Kansas Wesleyan the night prior in an 11-5 ballgame, keeping them undefeated in the top bracket of the tournament.
The Basics
Location: Dean Evans Stadium
Records: MC 27-23 (22-14 KCAC), KWU 46-7 (32-4 KCAC)
Score: MC 1, KWU 10
How it Happened
In this matchup, Kansas Wesleyan would serve as the home team in their own stadium, contrary to last night where McPherson settled comfortably in the third base dugout. With a sour taste in their mouth from the night prior, the Coyotes started off hot. After the Bulldogs put up no runs in the top of the first, Kansas Wesleyan ended the first with a four-spot highlighted by Blake Dales’ three-run homer.
A notable injury for the Bulldogs was Francisco Paradis who started on the mound for McPherson. After five pitches, he was taken out of the game holding his throwing arm. Matthew Vigil would take over for the visitors after being allowed several minutes to move from the dugout to the bullpen to warm up following the unexpected call to the game.
The Coyotes found an extra run in the bottom of the third following Fernando Ruvalcaba’s RBI single to left center field, driving in Carter Allen from third.
The visitors got on the board in the top of the fourth on Troy Stukenberg’s ground out to the short stop on a close play at first; it gave Myles Vazquez enough time to make his way home to move the score to 5-1.
McPherson was unable to get anything going on offense for the remainder of the ballgame and the Coyotes continued to roll at home. Kansas Wesleyan would take the 10-1 victory and fight to see another day, as the Bulldogs and Coyotes were paired up one more time for a spot in the KCAC Championship on the line.
