By: McPherson College Athletics
McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) — The McPherson College Bulldogs completed the series sweep of the Avila University Eagles with a pair of victories Sunday (Apr. 16) at Bulldog Park.
The Bulldogs exploded offensively for 16 runs in the first half of the doubleheader before scoring 11 runs in game two. Dawson Walters and Kevinn Castillo each shined at the plate combining for all five of the Bulldogs’ home runs and 14 RBIs.
Tyler Norris got the start for the Bulldogs in game one and threw a complete game with nine strikeouts while allowing one run on three hits.
The Eagles scored once in the top of the first, but the Bulldogs responded with an eight-spot in the next half-inning, including a three-run blast by Castillo. Walters followed suit with his first of three homers on the day, then Gage Ninness finished off the monster inning with an RBI double that brought Sammy Grim around to score.
Castillo added one in the second inning on the heels of his second home run, then he singled home Hayden Foster in the fifth to make it a 10-1 advantage.
The Bulldogs tacked on six more in the sixth, which included a three-run shot by Walters to seal the run-rule victory.
Game two started with a pair of RBI singles by Hunter Robinson and Castillo and an RBI double by Foster in the bottom of the first. Antonio Fernandez kept it going in the second with a single up the middle that brought Grim and Ninness around to score.
Landon Vahle pulled the Eagles within 5-2 with a two-run home run in the third, but Walters matched in the bottom of the frame with a two-run blast to left field. Ninness kept the inning going scoring on a single by Fernandez, then Robinson doubled to left field bringing Fernandez and Caleb Feuerstake around to score.
The Eagles scored two in the top of the fourth, but Walters tripled to left-center field wrapping up the scoring for the Bulldogs. The Eagles made things interesting in the seventh, scoring three runs, but Zach Reynolds came on and induced a ground ball to give the Bulldogs the 11-7 win.
Castillo finished the day 7-for-8 at the dish, including reaching on a base hit in his first seven plate appearances.
The Bulldogs remain at Bulldog Park for a midweek game against Sterling College Tuesday (Apr. 18) starting at 2 p.m. McPherson will go for the series sweep after taking game one at Bulldog Park 12-10 and winning the second game 14-5 in Sterling.
