GPAC

[Baseball] Baseball Drops First Game of NAIA Tournament

Doane Baseball opened up play in the NAIA National Opening Round Tournament on Monday in O'Fallon, Missouri. The Tigers faced McPherson (Kan.) in the opening game, falling in the latter innings for a 7-2 decision in favor of the Bulldogs. Doane will play on Tuesday at 3 PM with an opponent to be determined.McPherson was able to strike first as they plated two runs in the bottom of the 1st inning with a pair of two out hits that led to a 2-0 advantage. Doane was able to get on the board in the 4th inning as Joe Osborn (FR/Hickman, Neb.) scored on a fielder's choice to cut the deficit in half. The Tigers tied the game in the 5th inning as Osborn hit a solo home run with two outs.The Bulldogs regained the lead in the bottom of the 5th with a two-out RBI-single to go ahead, 3-2. In the 7th inning, McPherson added to their lead with a one-out single and a two-out infield single to push the lead to 5-2. Back to back home runs with one out in the 8th inning closed out the scoring for the Bulldogs.Travis Cowan (JR/Lakewood, Colo.) started for the Tigers and went 6-plus innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, four walks, and four hit batters. He struck out nine batters, running his season total to 88, one shy of the school record for a season. Christian McCown (JR/Diller, Neb.) allowed one run on a walk with Thaniel Trumper (FR/Fort Collins, Colo.) allowing two runs on four hits in 1.1 innings. Kyler Beekman (FR/Elkhorn, Neb.) picked up the final two outs for the pitching staff.At the plate, Doane had 10 hits in the game with three coming off the bat of Lukas White (SO/Castaic, Calif.). In the 9th inning, he hit his 20th double of the season, one shy of the school record. Jaryn Nakamoto (SR/Aiea, Hawaii) had two hits in the game. Osborn and Luke LaChance (FR/Littleton, Colo.) had the Tigers' RBIs in the game.