Jacob Nielsen started on the mound for the Saints, but it was Braeden Gould (2-1) who picked up the win. The Plainsmen scored nine runs while Nielsen was pitching, but only two were earned. Brayden Conner (1.0 IP), West Reddell (1.0 IP), Gould (1.0 IP), Blake Hale (0.2 IP), Brooks Williams (0.1 IP), Brendan Madsen (2.1 IP) and Cole Bergdall (0.2 IP) pitched in relief for Nielsen.
Seward finished with 16 hits on the day. Jordan Kennedy and Jose Caraballo led the Saints with three hits, while Cruz Shope, Cayde Ward and Trent Powell each finished with two hits. Shope led the Saints with a career-high five RBI day, while Caraballo finished with four RBI.
In a season where non-conference games have not gone in the favor of the Saints, it seemed like another was trending that way as the Plainsmen scored nine runs in the first two innings. The first two runs of the game were earned, coming off a double and a single, but an error with the next at bat allowed the inning to continue.
A hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Frank Phillips before two more singles score another three runs to make the game 5-0 after one inning of play.
An error and a walk started the second inning, before a double scored both runs. Another run scored from a passed ball before a home run made the score 9-0.
Austin Tidwell led off a high-scoring fifth inning for the Saints with a double down the left field line. A single and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases before Jordan Kennedy scored two runs with a single to left field.
Shope brought home two of his RBI with a triple to center field. Ward followed up with a double to center to make the score 9-5.
A Trent Powell home run in the top of the fifth cut the Seward deficit to three runs.
The Saints used a nine-run sixth inning to take a commanding lead. Two batters were hit by pitches and two more were walked to score the first run. A single by Caraballo tied the game before Kennedy gave the Saints their first lead of the game with a single to center field. Each of the next four batters scored a run, coming off two singles, a sac fly and an error to give the Saints a 15-9 lead.
Frank Phillips got right back into the game in the bottom of the sixth. After loading the bases, the Saints hit or walked three straight batters to make the score 15-12.
The Plainsmen followed up with one run in the seventh inning, hitting a triple to drive in a leadoff walk, cutting the Saints lead to two.
After Bergdall reached on an error in the top of the eighth, Shope crushed a home run to left field to make it 17-13.
The Saints used back-to-back home runs by Caraballo and Spencer Sackett in the top of the ninth to extend their lead to 20-13.
After recording a leadoff out, the next six Plainsmen reached base, scoring three runs along the way. With the bases loaded and two outs, a double by Frank Phillips emptied the bases and cut the Seward lead to one run. Bergdall forced a pop out with the next batter to secure the 20-19 win for the Saints.
Seward will travel to Garden City for a 12:00 p.m. double header with the Broncbusters. The game can be heard online at KSCBNews.net with Roy Allen (pxp) on the call.
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