Riding the arm of starting pitcher Evan Faulkner, the University of Saint Mary’s baseball team advanced through the opening round of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Faulkner pitched a one-run complete game against Ottawa University to pace the Spires to a 4-1 first round victory.
USM then lost in the second round to Kansas Wesleyan 16-3, thus setting up a win or go home game against the winner of Ottawa vs. Tabor College at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 5.
If the Spires win, the team will face either Wesleyan again or Sterling College in the semi-finals Thursday evening.
Against Ottawa, while Faulkner kept the opponent off balanced in the field by scattering eight hits over nine frames, USM scored runs in the first and third innings.
The Spires scored one run in the first when Josh Barnes crossed home plate thanks to a Cody McCary double to left center.
In the fourth frame, USM shortstop Devin Hupp smacked home to more scores on a RBI double to center, then raced in when Travis Quick singled up the middle.
Versus Kansas Wesleyan, USM held an early three-run advantage after posting all three scores in the bottom of the third.
Barnes, Hupp and Lucas Murphy recorded the squad’s three RBIs, with Stephen Malisa, Winston Hines and Hupp scoring the runs.
Despite that early lead though, Wesleyan ripped off 16 straight unanswered runs starting with five in both the fourth and fifth innings to take home the double digit win.
Jake Wolf took the loss for the Spires after throwing four and one third innings and allowing eight runs.
Barnes finished the game 2-for-4, as did Kevin Joyce.
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Riding the arm of starting pitcher Evan Faulkner, the University of Saint Mary’s baseball team advanced through the opening round of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Faulkner pitched a one-run complete game against Ottawa University to pace the Spires to a 4-1 first round victory.
USM then lost in the second round to Kansas Wesleyan 16-3, thus setting up a win or go home game against the winner of Ottawa vs. Tabor College at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 5.
If the Spires win, the team will face either Wesleyan again or Sterling College in the semi-finals Thursday evening.
Against Ottawa, while Faulkner kept the opponent off balanced in the field by scattering eight hits over nine frames, USM scored runs in the first and third innings.
The Spires scored one run in the first when Josh Barnes crossed home plate thanks to a Cody McCary double to left center.
In the fourth frame, USM shortstop Devin Hupp smacked home to more scores on a RBI double to center, then raced in when Travis Quick singled up the middle.
Versus Kansas Wesleyan, USM held an early three-run advantage after posting all three scores in the bottom of the third.
Barnes, Hupp and Lucas Murphy recorded the squad’s three RBIs, with Stephen Malisa, Winston Hines and Hupp scoring the runs.
Despite that early lead though, Wesleyan ripped off 16 straight unanswered runs starting with five in both the fourth and fifth innings to take home the double digit win.
Jake Wolf took the loss for the Spires after throwing four and one third innings and allowing eight runs.
Barnes finished the game 2-for-4, as did Kevin Joyce.
