McPheron's Gem Helps Wildcats Win Series from CMU; Keep Postseason Hopes Alive
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Central Methodist (MO) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
|
Culver-Stockton (MO) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 1 | 6 | 0 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Central Methodist (MO) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 2 |
|
Culver-Stockton (MO) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
Josh McPheron pitched a complete-game shutout in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader against 20th-ranked Central Methodist at Nichols Field to help the Wildcats take three of the four in the series and keep their postseason hopes alive.
McPheron was magnificent in the 1-0 Wildcat victory, scattering three hits, striking out two and walking no one. After allowing two hits in the first two innings, McPheron retired 17 of the final 18 batters he faced, allowing only a leadoff single in the fifth inning, including the final nine batters of the game.
The Wildcats scored the only run of the game in the second inning. Caden Power and Jaison Andujar began the inning with back-to-back singles before Brandon Aragon sacrificed both runners to to second and third.
Ryan Osso, who had a three-run homer in Friday's 9-7 victory over the Eagles, need just a routine fly ball to left field to score Power with the only run of the game on a sacrifice fly.
In the final game of the series, CMU avoided a sweep with a 6-1 victory in the nightcap.
The Wildcats were limited to six hits in the game with Collin Hall registering three of them.
The Eagles plated single runs in the second and fourth innings to jump out to a 2-0 lead.
C-SC cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fourth when Dax Flowerree walked and Power singled to begin the frame. Andujar sacrificed both runners up one base before Aragon grounded out to score Flowerree with the Wildcats' only run.
CMU extended its lead to 4-1 with two runs in the fifth inning, and then added two more in the sixth inning to account for the final score.
The Wildcats, who finish the regular season with a 18-29 overall record and a 14-17 mark in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, will now sit and wait to see what William Penn does in its doubleheader with Mount Mercy Sunday.
The Statesmen and Mustangs were suspended in the first game Saturday due to weather with Mount Mercy leading 11-7 in the seventh inning.
A come-from-behind victory by William Penn in the suspended game or in game two Sunday will eliminate the Wildcat from playoff contention.