Saints Split at Lamar

In what could be considered one of the better
non-conference rivalries in the area, the Seward County Saints traveled
to Lamar on Wednesday to take on the Lamar Runnin Lopes. Seward would
get all over the Lopes in game one of the double dip as they took an
early lead before scoring seven runs in the 5th and 6th innings to come
away with a 10-4 win. In game two it was Lamar who would come out on
the good end of a 4-3 decision as the Lopes scored two in the 4th and
then one in the 6th and one in the 7th to come away with the walkoff one
run victory.

The Saints would get on the board early in game one as
Brittain Ibbotson walked to lead off the game and would score later in
the 1st inning on an error to put Seward up 1-0. Saints starter Austin
Beisel would work out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the inning
with a pair of strikeouts and Seward would tack on another run on a solo
home run from Tanner Rainey to lead off the 2nd inning to make it 2-0.
Seward would have a chance to add onto their lead in the top half of the
3rd inning as they would load the bases with two outs but a pop out
would end the frame and the threat to keep it a two run game. Lamar
would get their first run in the bottom half of the 3rd inning as a two
out hit by pitch followed by back to back singles would score a run to
cut the lead in half but Seward would push back two runs ahead in the
top of the 4th as Willy Gustin would trot around the bases on a leadoff
bomb to make it 3-1. Things would pick up on the offensive end for both
teams in the 5th inning as the Saints picked up three runs on RBI knocks
from Jon Mestas and Rainey as well as a groundout by Gustin to put them
ahead 6-1. The Lopes would match the Saints three spot in the bottom
half of the inning as a two out single to score a run followed by a two
run shot from catcher Mark Ortivez would bring Lamar back to within two
at 6-4 as they went to the 6th. In the Saints half of the 6th they
would prey on what would be less than ‘relief’ pitching for the Lopes as
Rainey would pick up another RBI with an infield single, Gustin would
continue his big day behind him with a 2 RBI single and Eddie Williams
would get in the act as well with Seward’s third straight two out hit to
put them comfortably ahead 10-4. Lamar would never get close again as
Seward reliever Logan Hall kept them off the board with 2 1/3 innings of
scoreless relief to close the ballgame and pick up his first career save
for the Saints as they went on to win 10-4. Rainey and Gustin would do
a job on the Lamar pitching in the game as the two combined to go 5 for
8 with 3 runs scored and 7 RBI’s in the win while Jake Barrios and Tyler
Hill would also combine to go 5 for 8 with 3 runs scored for Seward.
Beisel picks up the win for the Saints as he went his scheduled 2
innings in the midweek tussle, he allowed just 2 hits and 2 walks while
striking out 3 and keeping the Lopes off the scoreboard.

GAME ONE BOX SCORE
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Effectively wild pitching is what you could consider the
first three innings for both teams. Seward would get a pair of walks in
the 1st inning but wouldn’t be able to cash either in for runs as a
double play ended the inning and Lamar would get a leadoff walk in their
half of the 1st but three straight strikeouts by Saints starter Keegan
Hucul would not allow them to capitalize on that to keep the game
scoreless. Seward would get two more walks in the 2nd inning but would
also strikeout three times to keep them from getting on the board and
the Lopes would go down in order in their half of the frame to keep the
score 0-0 into the 3rd. Seward would go 1-2-3 in the 3rd but Hucul
would continue to quiet the Lope bats in the 3rd with a single the only
blemish in the inning and swiftly the teams went to the 4th inning with
neither team scoring a run yet. The Saints 4th would see no action
again and this time Lamar would take advantage and take their first lead
of the day. A leadoff double and a single sandwiched around a strikeout
would have them with runners on second and third with one out. A 3-2
walk would then load the bases and Ortivez would break the silence on
the scoreboard with a two run single to left to put Lamar up 2-0 after
4. The Saints would get their first hit of the game in the 5th inning
but would do nothing with it and Seward relief pitcher Jose Gonzalez
would pitch around a leadoff double and a walk to keep it a 2-0 game in
favor of Lamar. The Saints would finally get something cooking in the
6th inning as Jordan Dallalio walked to start the frame and Barrios
doubled behind him to put runners on second and third with nobody out.
An error by Lamar shortstop Pier-Oliver Dostaler would score Dallalio
and Barrios would be quickly brought home on a fielder’s choice off the
bat of Mestas to tie the game at 2-2. With two outs in the inning,
Mestas would then score on a wild pitch to put the Saints up 3-2 but the
Seward lead wouldn’t last long as the Lopes got back to back two out
hits in the bottom of the inning to tie things up at 3 as the teams went
to the 7th. The top of the Seward order could get nothing working in
the 7th and they would pay in the bottom half of the inning as Lamar got
a leadoff single to get things going and the runner would be moved to
second quickly with a sacrifice bunt. A walk would put runners on first
and second and a 1-1 offering from Gustin would be hit for a single to
score the run and give the Lopes the 3-2 walkoff win. The Saints would
be outhit 9 to 3 in the game with their only three hits coming off the
bats of Barrios, Jacob Jebb, and Jace Moore.

GAME TWO BOX SCORE
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The Saints split their seventh straight double header to
move to 10-8 overall on the season. Their next action will come this
weekend in Concordia when they make the long drive for a four game set
with the Cloud County Thunderbirds, who like the Saints, come into the
weekend with a 2-2 conference mark. Double headers on both Saturday and
Sunday will begin at 1:00. (Roy Allen)