Rose State struck first in the opener, plating a run in the bottom of the 1st to momentarily take a 1-0 lead before the Saints roared back with three in the 2nd on RBI’s from Owen Martin and Errett Edwards to take their first lead of the game at 3-1.
The Raiders tied the game with a two run single in the 3rd and then reopened a two run advantage with back to back two out doubles to go back in front 5-3.
A pair of walks by Saints pitching set up the Raiders for another tally in the 4th to make it a 6-3 game, but Seward tied the score back up with two outs in the 6th as Edwards singled home two and Addison Kaasch another to make it a 6-6 contest.
Needing just one out to send the game to the 7th tied, Saints pitching couldn’t secure the final out of the bottom of the 6th as a walk and back to back singles scored two, putting Rose State back in front 8-6.
The Saints couldn’t get anything going in their final at bats, striking out twice and going down in order to fall 8-6 in game one.
Seward outhit Rose 8-7 in the game, but also committed three errors, handing the Raiders six unearned runs in the loss. Edwards finished 2 for 4 with three RBI’s to lead a Saints offense that struck out 12 times in the seven inning contest. Four Saints pitched in the game, West Reddell picked up the loss, giving up a pair of unearned runs in 2 1/3 innings of work to even up his 2017 record to 1-1.
SEWARD COUNTY/ROSE STATE GAME ONE BOX SCORE<http://www.sewardsaints.com/sports/bsb/2016-17/boxscores/20170318_ympo.xml>
Seward got on the board early in game two as Montana Newell doubled home a run in the top of the 1st to grab a 1-0 lead.
The Saints extended their lead to 3-0 in the 2nd as Law Greiner blasted a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall for a two run shot with two outs to put Seward up three.
Saints starter Brayden Williams kept the Raiders quiet through three as the Saints maintained a 3-0 advantage as the teams went to the 4th.
The Saints continued to add on in the 4th as Brendan Madsen slapped a single up the middle to plate Owen Martin to make it a 4-0 contest.
Rose State got one back in the 4th and another in the 5th to make it a 4-2 game, but Seward reliever Ethan Earhart slammed the door from there, retiring all seven of the hitters he faced to close the game while the Saints added a pair of unneeded insurance runs in the 6th to win it 6-2.
Seward banged out 12 hits in the win while Williams and Earhart held the Raiders to just three in the game. Six different Saints had two hits in the game including Greiner had a pair of RBI’s on his 2nd inning homer. Williams earned the win, going 4 2/3, allowing three hits, two runs, one earned to pick up his first victory as a Saint while Earhart picked up his first career save by going 2 2/3 perfect innings to close it out for Seward.
<http://www.sewardsaints.com/sports/bsb/2016-17/boxscores/20170318_vpkh.xml>
SEWARD COUNTY/ROSE STATE GAME TWO BOX SCORE<http://www.sewardsaints.com/sports/bsb/2016-17/boxscores/20170318_vpkh.xml>
Seward moves to 9-17 on the year with the split while Rose State goes to 12-10.
The Saints will go on the road to Clarendon Wednesday to take on the Bulldogs in a non-conference affair before returning home and to Jayhawk West play next weekend when they host the Colby Trojans at Brent Gould Field in Liberal.