Beavers, Longhorns split GWAC doubleheader
Holcomb, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–As the season is quickly winding down, two teams met up on Tuesday with not only league implications, but also regional seeding. Both teams would leave the day with a win and a lost, as Scott City took the opening game 5-1, while Holcomb took the finale 4-3.
Scott City 5, Holcomb 1, Game 1
Scott City wouldn’t collect a hit until the third inning, but found a way to push a run across in the first inning. The Beavers scored on a balk call that scored Spencer Cramer from third to take an early 1-0 lead. They extended their lead in the third inning to 2-0 after an error allowed Aaron Ruelas to score from second. Scott City was able to put pressure on the Longhorn defense in the first, third and fifth innings. They were able to expand on their lead in the fifth inning, when Eloy Ruelas would drive in two runs, and they also got an RBI groundout by Lawson Bailey to extend their lead to 5-0. Holcomb got a two-out single in the bottom of the fifth inning to get on the board at 5-1. Neither team was able to score in the final two frames, as Scott City picked up a 5-1 win.
JP Harris got the win, going 4 2/3 innings, striking out 11, giving up a run on five hits. Lawson Bailey allowed one hit in the final 2 1/3 innings, and got the save. Eloy Ruelas had two hits and two RBI, while Spencer Cramer had two hits. Keegan Johnson took the loss, allowing five runs in 4 2/3 innings, on four hits, and recorded seven strikeouts. Cole Brown had two hits, while Korbin Johnson drove in a run.
Holcomb 4, Scott City 3, Game 2
Errors would be big early on, as Holcomb took advantage of three Scott City errors in the first inning. The Longhorns did get back to back singles form Cole Brown and Khai Cosner, as Cosner drove in Brown, and Cosner scored on an error to give the Holcomb the early 2-0 lead. They added another run in the bottom of the frame. Scott City rallied with two runs in the second inning. The Beavers tied the game at three in the fourth inning on an RBI walk. Holcomb would take the lead for good in the fifth inning on a throwing error with one out to go up 4-3. Scott City had chances to tie or take the lead in the sixth and seventh inning. They had runners on second and third with one out in the sixth, and the bases loaded in the seventh, but were unable to plate the tying or go ahead run, as the Longhorns hung on for the 4-3 win.
Korbin Johnson got the win, going six innings, giving up three runs, one earned, on three hits, with six strikeouts. Davin Hernandez gave up a hit, a walk and an intentional walk in the seventh, but was able to get the final three outs and get the save. Cole Brown had two hits in game two. Brady Welker took the loss, giving up four runs, three earned, on five hits, with nine strikeouts. Lawson Bailey and Zach Roberts each had an RBI.
After Tuesday, Scott City is 12-3 overall, 6-3 in GWAC play. They’ll play at Garden City on Friday. Holcomb is now 9-3 overall, 5-3 in conference play, as they will face Lakin on Thursday and Ulysses on Friday.
