McPHERSON, Kan. (MacBulldogs.com) — The McPherson College Bulldogs picked up their first series sweep of the season this weekend against the Bethany College at Bulldog Park.
GAME ONE – MC 11, BC 1
The Bulldogs braved the fierce wind on Friday (Mar. 22), to pick up the run-rule victory. Peyton Starr gave the Bulldogs a quick 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to bring Hayden Foster in to score.
A three-run third pushed MC’s lead to 4-0, after an RBI single by Dawson Walters again scored Foster, then Starr would come around to score on a Swede error. Colin Evers brought Walters home with an RBI single of his own.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning before a bases-clearing double by Foster made it a 7-0 McPherson lead. Foster would score on a wild pitch to push that lead to 8-0.
Bethany managed to grab one in the sixth, but the Bulldogs answered with three in the eighth to secure the run-rule. An RBI single by Foster, brought Artola and Olivo in to score, then Foster scored on a single to right field by Starr.
Jameson Caro made the start for the Bulldogs in the series opener, throwing seven innings with six strikeouts, while allowing just one run on one hit.
Foster drove in five of the Bulldogs’ 11 runs, and led the way with three hits and four runs scored. Starr added two hits and two RBIs.
GAME TWO – MC 7, BC 5
Game two of the series was a much tighter affair. The Bulldogs grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the first inning after a solo homer by Andres Artola, and an RBI single by Evers.
But the Swedes answered in the next half inning with a bases-clearing double by Jonathan Crist. That score would hold until the fourth inning when a single by Artola allowed Essig to score, before Artola scored himself thanks to an RBI single by Foster.
The Swedes again had an answer, pulling within 5-4 with one run in the top of the fifth.
A pair of RBI singles by Evers and Foster in the seventh and eighth, respectively, pushed the Bulldogs lead to 7-4. The Swedes added one in the top of the ninth, but a pair of strikeouts by Selstrom helped finish it off.
Evers finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a team-high three RBIs, while Artola added three hits and two RBIs. Foster went 2-for-5 and drove in a pair of runs. Hayden Casey threw five innings with seven strikeouts.
GAME THREE – MC 8, BC 3
Much like the opener, Artola gave the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead with a leadoff home run before MC added a pair of runs later in the inning. Walters brought home Foster then Kainoa Torres reached on a fielder’s choice allowing Starr to score.
The Swedes answered in the next half-inning with a pair of runs, but again it was the Bulldogs who pulled away, scoring one in the second before a solo homer by Starr in the third made it a 5-2 lead.
Bethany fought back once again with one run in the fifth, but an RBI single by Torres in the fifth pushed the lead to 6-3. MC added two more in the sixth.
Artola and Torres each finished with two hits and two RBIs apiece. Ethan Alexander drew the start for the Bulldogs in the final game of the series, throwing just two innings but striking out five batters. Francisco Paradis came on in relief and threw a pair of innings with a pair of strikeouts.
The Bulldogs are back at Bulldog Park on Wednesday (Mar. 27), wrapping up their midweek series with the Ottawa University Braves. OU has won the first two meetings.
