CHICKASHA, Okla. (MacBulldogs.com) — The McPherson College Bulldogs traveled to Chickasha, Okla. this week to take on the (RV) University of Science and Arts Drovers, but dropped all three games.
Kevinn Castillo finished the series 4-for-11 with three homeruns and six RBIs, while Peyton Starr went 5-for-12 at the plate.
GAME ONE – USAO 9, MC 4
The Bulldogs fell behind early in the opener after the Drovers plated three runs in each of the first two innings.
Jace Essig put the Bulldogs on the board in the top of the fifth with a two-run blast over the left field wall to trim the lead to 6-2, but an RBI single in the sixth by Ben Bach pushed the USAO lead to 7-2. The Drovers tacked on two more in the bottom of the seventh.
Castillo gave the Bulldogs a chance late with a two-run shot to left field, but the deficit was too much to overcome.
Essig went 3-for-5 at the plate for the Bulldogs with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Castillo and Dawson Walters each had two hits.
Noah Carpenter got the start in the opener and threw 1.2 innings, allowing five hits and six runs. Evan Morrison was effective on the mound in relief, allowing just one run on four hits, while striking out three batters in 4.1 innings of work.
GAME TWO – USAO 5, MC 2
MC grabbed their first lead of the weekend early in first half of the doubleheader when JT Edmunds was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Peyton McDowall put the Drovers on the board with a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the fourth, then an RBI single by Gage Ninness sparked a two-run fifth inning to give the Drovers a 3-1 advantage.
But Castillo kept his hot streak going in the top of the eighth, trimming the USAO lead to 3-2 with his team-leading fourth home run of the season. The Drovers added two more in the bottom half of the inning.
Hayden Casey was exceptional on the mound, throwing 4.1 inning with just three hits and two runs, while striking out four batters.
GAME THREE – USAO 19, MC 4
In the nightcap, Castillo gave the Bulldogs an early 3-0 with a homer to left field.
But from there it was all Drovers, scoring eight in the first, one in the second, five in the third and three in the fourth to grab a 17-4 lead.
The Bulldogs are set to travel to Sterlington, La., next weekend for the Cajun Collision. MC will take on (RV) St. Thomas University and (22) Central Methodist University on Saturday (Feb. 10) then will square off against LSU-Alexandria and (RV) Loyola University on Sunday (Feb. 11).
