BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (MacBulldogs.com) — The McPherson College Bulldogs offense exploded in game two to avoid a three-game sweep to the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles this weekend in Bartlesville, Okla.
GAME ONE – Oklahoma Wesleyan 14, McPherson 3 (7 innings)
The Bulldogs grabbed an early 1-0 advantage in the thanks to an RBI double to right center by Jace Essig that brought JT Edmunds around to score.
But the Eagles scored eight unanswered runs over three innings, including a pair of home runs by Jesus Maldonado and Alex Austin.
An RBI single by Andres Artola in the fifth drove in a pair of runs, briefly halting the offensive burst by the Eagles, but Oklahoma Wesleyan added six more in the next two innings, including another homer by Maldonado.
The Bulldogs finished with nine hits, led by Artola who finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Jameson Caro made the start on the mound for the Bulldogs and threw four innings with five strikeouts, but allowed eight runs.
GAME TWO – McPherson 16, Oklahoma Wesleyan 6
In game two, it was the Eagles who took an early lead after a solo homer by Jorge Aldrete and an RBI triple by Maldonado in the second.
Oklahoma Wesleyan added one more in the third, but this time it was the Bulldogs who rattled off six unanswered runs.
Dawson Walters put the Bulldogs on the board with a solo shot, then a two-run blast by Essig knotted the score in the top of the fourth.
A sacrifice fly by Walters in the fifth gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the weekend, then an RBI single up the middle by Edmunds pushed that lead to 5-3. Peyton Starr scored thanks to an error by the Eagles third baseman to close out the fifth inning.
The Eagles added on in the sixth inning, but a sacrifice fly by Essig followed by a double by Hayden Foster extended the lead to 9-4.
MC again grew their lead thanks to a pair of solo homers by Walters and Evers in the eighth, and another solo shot by Luke Nordean in the top of the ninth to make it a 12-5 advantage. The Bulldogs added four more in the ninth thanks to a double by Artola, followed by three RBI singles by Edmunds, Ky’rell Taylor, and Essig.
MC finished game two with a season-high-tying 18 hits. Edmunds and Evers each led the way with three hits apiece, while Essig drove in four runs and Walters finished with three RBIs.
Hayden Casey made the start and threw four innings with as many strikeouts. Noah Carpenter came on in relief and finished the game, striking out five batters while allowing just three runs.
GAME THREE – Oklahoma Wesleyan 12, McPherson 3
The Bulldogs had eight hits in game three, but scored just three runs.
Edmunds gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a solo blast, but Oklahoma Wesleyan responded with seven runs in the bottom of the third.
Starr homered in the fifth to cut the lead to 7-2, but the Eagles added two more in the fifth. A sacrifice fly by Jorge Olivo drove in Edmunds in the sixth, but again the Eagles had an answer, scoring three more in the bottom half of the inning.
Evan Morrison, Starr, and Edmunds each paced the Bulldogs with two hits.
The Bulldogs hit the road Tuesday (Apr. 15) to take on Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City, Okla.
