Spires Walk It Off! Saint Mary Downs McPherson in Thrilling 10-Inning Showdown

LEAVENWORTH, KAN. – In a dramatic display of resilience, the University of Saint Mary Spires baseball team secured a thrilling 3-2 walk-off victory against the McPherson Bulldogs on Tuesday. The Spires, now 2-6 overall, delivered a much-needed win in front of their home crowd, setting the stage for a rematch on Wednesday.

The game was a pitcher's duel for the majority, with both teams struggling to capitalize on opportunities. Saint Mary struck first in the third inning. Eli Prine drove in the first run after being hit by a pitch with bases loaded. Then, a passed ball allowed Keaton Herron to score, giving the Spires a 2-0 lead.

McPherson battled back in the seventh, tying the game with a pair of RBI singles from Jared Kramp and Dawson Walters. Saint Mary's Nicholas Salgado pitched a stellar 7 innings, only allowing two runs, but the Bulldogs found a way to scratch back.

The tension mounted as the game progressed into extra innings. Saint Mary's Angel Nicoli-Colli came in relief, and held the Bulldogs scoreless for 3 innings. The Spires, determined to end the game on their terms, came to bat in the bottom of the tenth. With Daniel Martinez on second, Caleb McClellan delivered a clutch RBI double, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Key Highlights:

• Walk-off Heroics: Caleb McClellan's tenth-inning double sealed the victory for the Spires, driving in the winning run.
• Strong Pitching Performance: Nicholas Salgado delivered a dominant performance on the mound, pitching 7 strong innings only allowing 2 runs. Angel Nicoli-Colli picked up the win, pitching 3 scoreless innings.
• Timely Hitting: Saint Mary capitalized on key opportunities, with Eli Prine and Caleb McClellan providing crucial RBIs.
• Defensive Prowess: The Spires' defense was solid, turning two crucial double plays to stifle McPherson's offense.

Box Score Breakdown:

• For the Spires, Caleb McClellan's game-winning double and Daniel Martinez's crucial run were pivotal moments.
• Saint Mary's pitching staff held McPherson to only 2 runs.
• Saint Mary had 5 hits while McPherson had 13.

Up Next:

The Spires will look to carry this momentum into Wednesday's rematch against McPherson at 1 p.m. at home.