WICHITA, Kan. – The McPherson College Bulldogs won by scores of 14-5 and 8-3 in finishing a three-game series sweep of the Friends University Falcons today (Apr. 20) at West Side Athletic Field. The Bulldogs won the opening game yesterday 3-1 in 10 innings.
The Falcons are now 28-20 on the year and currently occupy the fifth spot in the KCAC with a 19-17 league record.
The opening game started strong for the Falcons with a run in each of the first three innings, capped by Carlos Rodriguez's eighth home run of the season.
But it was all Bulldogs from there, as a grand slam by Collin Evers started a spurt of 10 unanswered runs by McPherson that also included a three-run homer by Peyton Starr.
Zeke Henson singled in a run in the seventh and doubled in another in the ninth, but two-run doubles by Kai Torres and Starr in the top of the ninth gave the Bulldog plenty of cushion to pull out the first game win.
Henson, Najai Armbrister and Melwin Perez each had two hits for the Falcons, while Starr finished 4-of-6 with five runs driven in for the Bulldogs.
Francisco Moscoso started the first game for the Falcons and surrendered four runs and struck out two in three innings.
Jameson Caro went seven innings and gave up two earned runs and struck out four for McPherson.
The nightcap saw the Bulldogs jump on top early behind RBI singles by Andres Artola and Dawson Walters in the first inning.
After Armbrister singled home Perez in the third to put the Falcons on the board, Starr hit his second homer of the day in the fourth to give the Bulldogs their two run lead back.
A sacrifice fly by DJ Killion in the fourth again made it a one-run game, but Starr came through again with an RBI double to finish a three-run fifth frame and give the Bulldogs a four-run lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Armbrister recorded three more hits for the Falcons in the second game, with Niquan Benjamin going a perfect 3-of-3 at the plate.
Starr again led the Bulldogs (21-25, 17-16 KCAC) with three hits and a pair of RBIs.
Brett Black was the Falcons' second game starter and gave up three earned runs and two strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
Carson Cornelius lasted four innings and struck out three with two earned runs allowed to get the win for McPherson.
The Falcons have now wrapped up KCAC action and will host No. 18-ranked Mid-America Christian University Tuesday afternoon (Apr. 23) starting at 4 pm.
