McPherson, Kan.—

Game One:
 
A wild offensive afternoon in game one at Bulldog Park ended in disappointment for the Spires as an explosive eight-run fifth inning from USM could not hold up in a 19-15 loss at Bulldog Park.
USM's offense started early, scratching out a run in the first and adding single tallies in the third and a three-run fourth to stay within striking distance despite McPherson's five-run first and two-run fourth.

USM trailed 10-5 before erupting in the top of the fifth to grab a brief 13-12 lead. The Spires sent a wave of hitters to the plate, stringing together timely hits, free passes and pressure on the base paths. Pinch hitter Jaxon Sloan delivered the biggest swing of the frame, ripping a two-run double to the gap, while Ben Brandt followed with a run-scoring triple that helped cap the eight-run surge and flip the scoreboard in favor of the Spires.

McPherson answered immediately, reclaiming control in the bottom of the sixth with a six-run inning that proved deadly to the Spires efforts. Trailing by one, the Bulldogs used the long ball to swing momentum back, as Kramp launched a three-run home run and Stukenberg followed with a two-run shot to push McPherson back in front, 18-13. Jackson added another insurance run with a solo homer in the eighth, stretching the margin to six.

The Spires did not go quietly in the ninth, pushing across two final runs on an RBI double from John Caime and a run scoring on a passed ball by Lucas Barta to trim the deficit to 19-15 before the rally stalled. Despite the setback, Saint Mary showed offensive depth and resilience in battling back from multiple early deficits and briefly seizing the lead on the road. The Spires will look to build on the sustained offensive production while tightening up on the mound and defensively after allowing 19 runs on 18 hits and committing two errors in the high-scoring contest.

Offensively, the Spires stayed on the attack throughout the 3-hour, 29-minute game one contest. USM finished with 15 runs on 14 hits, drawing 10 walks and being hit by five pitches to keep constant pressure on McPherson's pitching staff. Ian Maldonado led the way at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored as one of the most consistent bats in the lineup. Sloan made the most of his opportunity, finishing with a double, two RBIs and a run scored in two trips. The Spires also collected four doubles and a triple as part of a persistent extra-base hit presence.

On the other side, McPherson piled up 19 runs on 18 hits, including six doubles, a triple and three home runs. Kramp scored four times and drove in three, Stukenberg added three hits and three RBIs, and Vazquez went 4-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and four runs scored to pace the Bulldogs' lineup. The early five-run first and a four-run fifth helped build a cushion that made the sixth-inning outburst a back breaker for Saint Mary's comeback bid.
 
Game Two:

A solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning spoiled a strong mid game surge by the Spires in game two as they fell 7-6 to wrap up the series.

Saint Mary struck first in the second when Daxton Macias doubled to center to bring home Sean Goings for a 1-0 advantage. After McPherson answered and then pulled ahead 3-1 on a two-run homer by Vazquez in the third, USM responded in the fourth as Ian Maldonado cut the deficit to 3-2 with a solo home run.

USM's biggest offensive frame came in the fifth. The Spires pushed across three runs in the inning, highlighted by an RBI double to left-center by Jaxon Sloan that capped the rally and extended the lead to 6-3. This burst only to see the Bulldogs chip away McPherson began its comeback in the bottom of the fifth, when Stukenberg ripped an RBI double and another run scored on a wild pitch to pull the Bulldogs within 6-5.

The Spires' defense nearly preserved the lead two innings later, but a single by Vazquez in the seventh led to the tying run on a defensive miscue, evening the score at 6-6. With the game still even in the eighth, McPherson's Berard delivered the decisive blow, driving a solo homer that pushed the Bulldogs in front for good.

Maldonado led the Spires' offense, going 2-for-4 with a home run, an RBI and a run scored. Sloan added a run-scoring double, while Macias also doubled in a run as USM stacked extra-base hits to build its middle-innings advantage. The Spires finished with five runners left on base, while McPherson stranded seven.

USM will hit the road again this week on Wednesday, March 18^th as they head to Robbie Jones Field at Dixon Stadium in Olathe, Kansas with first pitch slated for 3:00 p.m.