[Baseball] Baseball Edged in Extra Innings

Doane Baseball started a three-game weekend series on Saturday afternoon in McPherson, Kansas, as they took on the host Bulldogs. Doane and McPherson have become familiar foes in recent years, especially after five meetings last year including one in the NAIA National Opening Round Tournament. On Saturday, the two squads would play one game and it would go to extra innings before the Bulldogs pulled out a 5-4 win in 10 innings.

After four scoreless innings, Doane struck first with a run in the top of the 5th inning. Justin Nevells (SO/Chugiak, Alaska) drew a one-out walk and came around to score on an error on a ball hit into right field by Andy Theiler (SR/Arlington, Neb.). Doane pushed their lead up another run in the 6th inning on a solo home run by Jack Tillman (JR/Omaha, Neb.).

The Bulldogs came back with three runs in the bottom of the 6th to take their first lead of the day. A two-out, three-run double gave McPherson a 3-2 lead.

Doane came back with two runs in the 7th inning to regain the lead, 4-3. Theiler delivered a two-run single to plate Nevells and Blake Toedtli (JR/Brighton, Colo.). McPherson would force extra innings in the bottom of the 8th inning by plating a run on a Tiger error. In extra innings, a bases loaded walk with two outs gave the Bulldogs the win.

Tillman finished the day with three of the team's nine hits. Luke LaChance (SO/Littleton, Colo.) added a three-hit game as well. Theiler was credited with three runs driven in while Nevells scored two of them.

On the hill, Travis Cowan (SR/Lakewood, Colo.) took a no-decision as he allowed three runs on six hits in 5.2 innings, striking out three. Jackson Stensgaard struck out the one batter he faced. Julian Vargas (SO/Denver, Colo.) took the loss in 3.0 innings of relief work, giving up two runs (one earned). Thaniel Trumper (SO/Fort Collins, Colo.) picked up two outs as well on the mound.

Doane will play a doubleheader at McPherson on Sunday, February 20, starting at 12 PM.