McPHERSON, Kan. – The Bullpup varsity baseball team stayed hot Thursday, March 27, getting two more run-rule victories against Augusta in their divisional opener, winning 11-1 in five innings in game one and 15-0 in four innings in game two. This comes after McPherson had two run-rule wins Tuesday in their season opener against Valley Center.
GAME ONE – W 11-1 (5)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | ||
| Augusta: | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | x | x | 1 | 5 | 6 | ||
| McPherson: | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | x | x | 11 | 5 | 0 |
McPherson’s offense started off a touch stale, only getting one hit in the first three innings combined despite taking a 1-0 lead in the third frame. After Augusta answered back to tie the game, McPherson found their spark in the bottom the fourth inning, putting up nine runs. The inning led off with Brock Richardson hitting the first home run for the Bullpups in the season to take the lead. Untimely errors and and drawn walks tacked on more runs in the inning, giving starting pitcher Logan Beede a nine-run cushion. McPherson scored one more run with an RBI double in the 5th inning to secure the 10 run victory in five innings.
Beede threw for the entire game in just 51 pitches in his first start of the year, leaving him available for Monday’s doubleheader if needed.
Batting: C. Bengtson: 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, R | B. Seidl: 0-2, BB, RBI, R | C. Allen: 0-3, RBI | B. Richardson: 1-3, HR, RBI, R | C. Strathman: 1-2, 2B, RBI, R, BB | I. Razak: 1-2, 2 RBI, BB, R | C. Huggard: 1-3, R | I. Barnett: 0-1, BB, RBI, 2 R | B. Doile: 0-1, BB, 2 R
Pitching: L. Beede (W, 1-0) – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
GAME TWO – W 15-0 (4)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | ||
| Augusta: | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | x | x | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
| McPherson: | 4 | 0 | 5 | 6 | x | x | x | 15 | 13 | 0 |
The momentum of the offensive firepower McPherson had in the fourth and fifth inning of game one carried immediately into game two of the doubleheader. Five straight base hits started off the first inning, which ballooned them towards the rest of the shutout victory. The Bullpups also drew six walks and did not strike out once in game two. Five Bullpups finished with multiple RBI’s on the game to move McPherson to 4-0 on the season, and 2-0 in divisional play.
Batting: C. Bengtson: 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, 2 R, SB | B. Seidl: 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, R, SB | C. Allen: 2-3, 2 RBI, BB, 2 R | B. Richardson: 2-2, RBI, BB, 3 R, 2 SB | C. Strathman: 1-1, 2 RBI, BB, 2 R | I. Razak: 1-3, RBI, R | C. Huggard: 1-3, 3B, 2 RBI, R | I. Barnett: 1-2, 2B, RBI, R / C. Buchman: 0-0, HBP, R | B. Doile: 1-2, BB, R
Pitching: C. Strathman (W, 1-0) – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K | B. Doile – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K
JUNIOR VARSITY:
Game one: W 13-3 (4 inn.)
Game two: W 12-2 (4 inn.)
McPherson’s varsity team will have their first road trip of the season Monday, March 31 against Winfield while the JV team will not have a game until Monday, April 7 at Andale. The varsity games will be broadcast on 98.9/1540 KMCP.
