Saints Slip in Mid Week Tilt at Clarendon

Seward pitching was hit hard once again Wednesday, allowing 18 Clarendon hits in a 9-6 loss in the Lone Star State. The Saints fell behind 4-0 after one and never recovered, using a three run inning late to make things close as the Bulldogs went on to win 9-6.

After giving up 21 runs in a run rule loss in their last outing, the Saints were hoping to get some things figured out on the mound Wednesday as they took on the Clarendon Bulldogs in non-conference action. Those hopes didn’t get off to a great start however as Clarendon opened the 1st inning by putting each of their first seven hitters of the game on base, the big blow coming on a bases loaded double to score three and a sacrifice fly later on for the first out of the inning to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead after one.

Clarendon gift wrapped a run back for the Saints in the top of the 2nd, loaded the bases with a free pass and then walking a Seward run home to make it 4-1.

The Bulldogs loaded the bases on just one hit in the bottom of the 2nd, but Saints lefty Dylan Paul was able to get out of the jam to keep it a 4-1 game.

After two quick outs to begin their half of the 3rd, the Saints got a little something going, putting a pair of runners on before Cody Stineman cashed both in with an RBI single to cut the Clarendon lead to one at 4-3.

A leadoff walk in the bottom of the 3rd spelled trouble for the Saints as Clarendon added a run to make it 5-3 and a bases loaded walk by Seward in the 4th pushed another Dog run home to allow them to extend their lead to 6-3.

Seward loaded the bases but couldn’t score in the 5th and left two more stranded in the 6th to keep the score 6-3 in favor of Clarendon.

The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the 6th, which would prove big later on as they went in front 7-3.

With two outs in the Seward 7th, Austin Bartosovsky doubled home a run and Justin Graff-Rowe drove in a pair with a single behind him to all of a sudden cut the Clarendon lead to just one at 7-6.

Another Seward walk on the mound helped Clarendon push home a run after stretch time to make it an 8-6 game and the Bulldogs added another in the 8th after a leadoff triple to make it 9-6.

Down to their final three outs, the Saints tried to make some noise as Errett Edwards singled to start their half of the 9th, but a double play quickly erased him and a lineout turned the lights out on the guys in green as Clarendon hung on to win 9-6.

Clarendon outhit Seward 18-11 in the contest, the second straight game Saints pitching yielded 18 hits to their opponent. Graff-Rowe continued to swing a hot bat, leading Seward with three hits at the top of the order, also driving in three runs in the defeat. Paul took the loss on the mound to fall to 0-3 on the year, allowing six hits and four runs in two innings of work.

The Saints drop back to .500 on the year at 18-18 with the loss while Clarendon improves to 21-13.

Seward will return home on Saturday and Sunday to Brent Gould Field where they will take on the Cloud County Thunderbirds in a four game Jayhawk West Conference set beginning at 1:00 both days.

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