Saints Keep Same Form with Split a Butler

For the second time in the four game series, the Seward County Saints took game one and lost game two.  Saturday, on a gray and cold day in El Dorado, the Saints won game one 8-4 but lost game two 4-3.  It’s the fourth straight time the Saints have ventured to McDonald Stadium in El Dorado and won the first game only to lose the second game.  The Saints and Grizzlies split the season’s opening series for a fourth straight time.

In game one, the Saints scored three in the first.  Cameron Cartwright ripped a double down the third base line to begin the game.  Jaxson Gregg grounded out to drive him home.  Trenton Rowan and Jarron Wilcox added RBI singles.  Butler scored one in the first against starter Trent Gerber.  The Saints kept the pressure on with two in the second.  Brody Boisvert walked to lead off the inning.  Connor Cox followed that up with a single.  Ranse Radtke rippled a two RBI double off the wall in left to score two and make it 5-1.  Tristan Curless lofted a ball through the mist and over the left field wall to a 6-1 lead in the third.  The Grizzlies scored in the bottom of the third to trim the Saints lead to 6-2.  Seward’s lead ballooned to 8-2 when they scored two in the fourth.  Connor Cox singled to lead off the inning.  Cameron Cartwright doubled.  Ranse Radtke grounded out to drive home a run.  Jaxson Gregg singled home a run.  Butler scored two in the bottom of the fourth to trim the lead to 8-4 after four.  Trent Gerber pitched six innings for the win allowing four runs on seven hits.   TJ Newman pitched a scoreless seventh to close it out.  Cameron Cartwright was 2-4 with twou doubles.  Connor Cox was 2-3.

The Saints out hit the Grizzlies 9-7 in game two but lost by one as their defense and timely hitting were missing in action.  With temperatures falling as the game went on, the Saints struggled to take care of the baseball committing three errors.  They allowed one unearned run.  SCCC left 11 on men on base.  The Grizzlies scored first with a run in the second against Tristan Curless.  The Saints took a 2-1 lead with a two in the third.  Jordan Crowder and Conner Raney singled to lead off the third.  Cameron Cartwright singled home a run.  Radtke reached on an error to score another run.  Cameron Cartwright lined a single to right on an 0-2 pitch in the fourth to give the Saints a 3-1 lead.  But Seward never scored again.  Butler scored one in the fourth and two in the fifth.  Curless pitched five innings allowing three earned runs with four strikeouts and two walks.  Brady Ritzmann pitched three scoreless innings.  Cameron Cartwright was Epic Touch Player of the Game going 3-5.  Conner Raney had two hits.

Seward is 11-13 overall and 2-2 in the Jayhawk West.  Butler is 9-9 overall and 2-2 in the KJCCC West.  Seward hosts Clarendon Tuesday at 2pm at Brent Gould Field.