Saints Hang On in Shootout with Plainsmen

The Seward County Saints hung on Wednesday afternoon at Brent Gould Field in Liberal, defeating visiting Frank Phillips 10-9 in a game that featured 10 extra base hits and 29 hits overall.

The Saints teed off right away on Plainsmen pitching, scoring three times in the bottom half of the 1st inning, getting an RBI triple off the wall from Justin Graff-Rowe and a two run bomb to right center off the bat of Dylan Paul two pitches later to quickly put Seward in front 3-0.

After third baseman, turned starting pitcher Wednesday, Jared Biddy finished his third hitless inning on the mound for Seward, the Saints added to their lead, getting a leadoff home run from Graff-Rowe and an RBI single moments later from Antonio Dorado to stretch their advantage to 5-0.

Frank Phillips got on the board for the first time in the 4th, plating four runs after some erratic pitching from Seward that saw Saints pitching walk four, including one with the bases loaded, while hitting another batter to quickly make it a 5-4 game.

The Saints answered with a big inning of their own in the bottom half of the 4th as Chad Kennedy tripled home a run and Dorado doubled behind that to score another to make it 7-4. They weren’t done there, Dorado later scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-4 and Graff-Rowe drove home his third run of the game with a sacrifice fly to push the Seward lead to 9-4. Paul added a ringing single with two outs in the inning to score another Saints run and when the dust cleared, Seward was in control, up 10-4.

The Plainsmen kept battling as a leadoff single for Frank Phillips in the 6th started a two run frame to make it 10-6.

After back to back scoreless innings for Seward in the 6th and 7th, Frank Phillips made things even more interesting in the top of the 8th. After two quick outs, the Plainsmen rallied. An RBI single and then RBI triple behind it made it a 10-8 game and after a walk to put runners on the corners, a bloop single to center made it a one run game at 10-9. The Saints tenth walk of the game on the mound loaded the bases for the Plainsmen before Paul, already the days offensive hero, entered the game to pitch from left field. He promptly struck out the first hitter he faced on just four pitches, stranding the bases loaded and keeping the Saints in front 10-9.

Seward couldn’t add any insurance in the bottom of the 8th, but they wouldn’t need it as Paul slammed the door shut in the 9th, needing just nine pitches to deal a 1-2-3 frame, getting a tailor made double play ball to end it, sealing the 10-9 win for the Saints.

The game featured 29 hits, 15 for Seward and 14 for the Plainsmen. Paul starred on both sides for the Saints, leading the offense with 3 hits and 3 RBI’s while missing hitting for the cycle by just a triple and also throwing 1 1/3 perfect innings to close the game out to earn his second save of the year. Graff-Rowe finished 2 for 3 with 3 RBI’s in the win while Dorado was 3 for 4 with a pair of RBI’s. Biddy earned the win on the mound for Seward, going 3 innings without allowing a hit to pick up his first collegiate win.

The Saints get back on the winning track, improving to 9-15 on the year while Frank Phillips’ early season struggles continue as they fall to 5-15.

Seward continues a nine game home stand on Saturday and Sunday at Brent Gould Field in Liberal, hosting the Pratt Beavers in a four game Jayhawk West Conference series, both days beginning at 1:00.

SEWARD COUNTY/FRANK PHILLIPS BOX SCORE<http://www.sewardsaints.com/sports/bsb/2015-16/boxscores/20160316_iiea.xml>