BETHANY, Okla. (MacBulldogs.com) — The McPherson College Bulldogs split the four-game series against Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, Okla., winning games two and four to snap a five-game losing skid.
Game One – SCU 6, MC 2
The Bulldogs grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but an RBI double by Jhors Gomez in the bottom of the frame knotted the score.
MC again grabbed a one-run lead when Dawson Walters scored on a double by Andres Artola, but from there it was all Eagles, scoring three runs in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth.
Jorge Olivo finished 2-for-3 at the plate, while Walters, Artola, and JT Edmunds each had one hit.
Hayden Casey got the start on the mound for the Bulldogs and threw 4.0 innings, allowing just one run on four hits. Casey also struck out three batters.
Game Two – MC 6, SCU 3
MC scored six unanswered run in game two to secure their second victory of the season.
The Eagles put up three in the third inning, benefitting from an error and three passed balls, but the Bulldogs showed signs of life in the fifth, when Olivo singled to left field to drive in Colin Evers.
Down to their last out with the bases loaded, Dawson Walters leveled the score with an RBI single to center field, bringing Jace Essig and Ky’rell Taylorhome. Artola drew a walk, then Edmunds singled to right field, scoring two more to put MC up 5-3. Evers wrapped up the five-run inning with an RBI single.
The Bulldogs finished with six runs on nine hits. Essig, Edmunds, and Evers all finished with three hits apiece, while Edmunds and Walters led the way with two RBIs.
Jameson Caro allowed two runs and three hits in four innings of work. Ethan Alexander struck out two batters in the bottom of the seventh to pick up the win.
Game Three – SCU 9, MC 2
The Eagles score five runs in the second inning, including a three-run home run by Joseph Boone. SCU then tacked on two more in the bottom of the third.
Kevin Castillo hit his team-leading seventh homer of the season in the fourth inning to put the Bulldogs on the board, then Olivo doubled to left field in the fifth to trim the lead to 7-2.
But from there, the Eagles added two more in the bottom half of the inning.
Game Four – MC 9, SCU 6
Again, the Eagles jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first three innings. The Bulldogs cut the lead in half with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Luke Nordean doubled to right field, bringing Artola around to score, then Ivan Gomez drove in Taylor with an RBI single to left field.
MC grabbed their first lead of the game in the fifth with their second five-run inning of the weekend. Castillo sparked the big inning with a two-run blast over the center field wall, then Edmunds singled to centerfield to score Koen Gakstatter. Gomez closed out the frame with an RBI single that brought Edmunds and Evers home.
The Eagles added one in the bottom of the fifth, but a pair of RBI doubles by Evan Morrison and Castillo put MC on top 9-5 headed into the seventh inning.
Broc Selstrom came on in the final inning to secure the win, striking out one batter. Noah Thomas was effective on the mound for the Bulldogs, finishing with four strikeouts in just two innings of work.
MC recorded 11 hits in the final game of the series led by Morrison, Castillo, Artola, and Gomez all with two hits apiece.
The Bulldogs are home for the first time this season, opening KCAC play Friday and Saturday for a three-game set against Evangel University at Bulldog Park.
