Pierre, South Dakota- Beginning its defense of the 2023 Independence League Baseball Association title, the Fremont Moo opened the 2024 season with a 6-4 victory over the Oahe Zap, Thursday night at Hyde Stadium. Fremont put together a five-run eighth inning, leading to the Moo victory.
Both starting pitchers kept the opposing offenses from scoring over the first half of the contest. Zap starter Brady Glenn worked four innings and struck out two while only allowing one hit. Fremont starter, and Midland University product, Luke Hamzeh gave up just one hit over the first five innings, while striking out five Oahe batters.
Fremont got on the board in the top of the sixth inning when third baseman Carson Burnett led off with a double. The Ohlone College infielder would score the games’ first run three batters later when designated hitter Bridger Coleman singled, scoring Burnett. Coleman, from Allan Hancock College, put the Moo ahead 1-0. The Zap answered, though, in the bottom of the sixth. Nine-hole hitter Cole Ottesberg led off with a single, then stole second and third base. Two batters later, Jackson Mix dropped in a single, scoring Ottesberg, to tie the score at one apiece. Fremont reliever Alex Oliver, from Colorado State-Pueblo, relieved Hamzeh with two on in the inning, and recorded the last two outs to keep the score tied.
In the top of the eighth, Fremont took the lead for good. Cooper Fuchino, a catcher from Creighton, led off the inning with a double and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Isaac Bonner, a second baseman from the University of Sioux Falls, singled, driving in Fuchino, to make it 2-1. Bridger Coleman drew a walk and two batters later, Brayden Chaney, a left fielder from Wayne State College, did the same, to load the bases. Dylan Brandenburg, a first baseman from Skyline College, reached on an infield single, scoring Bonner, and a throwing error brought in Coleman to make it 4-1. Brayden Hodges, a shortstop from Briar Cliff, singled to left, scoring Chaney, and an error on the left fielder brought home Brandenburg, to put Fremont ahead, 6-1.
The Zap cut into the lead in the bottom of the ninth inning. Jacob Trusner led off against reliever Zach Vincent, and drew a walk. The next batter, Andrew Phillips, did the same, before Tyler Hoffman reached on an infield single, to load the bases. Down to their last out, the Zap’s Trey Martin hit a flyball to center field which looked to be the final play of the game, but the ball went right through the webbing of center fielder Miles Meadows’ glove, allowing three runs to score, making it 6-4. However, Vincent got Oahe leadoff batter Brandon Weigel to ground out to shortstop for the final out of the game, giving the Moo the 6-4 victory.
Moo starter Luke Hamzeh pitched 5.1 innings, giving up one run, four hits, one walk, struck out five and hit one batter. Alex Oliver (1-0) earned the win, working 2.2 innings, giving up one hit, with four strikeouts. Zack Vincent pitched 1.0 inning, giving up three unearned runs, one hit, one strikeout and two walks.
Oahe starter Brady Glenn pitched 4.0 innings, giving up one hit, with two strikeouts and two walks. Garrett Bergmann worked 2.0 innings of relief, yielding four hits, earning two strikeouts, hitting one batter and walking one. Lucas Crichton (0-1) took the loss. He pitched 1.1 innings, giving up five runs, two earned, four hits, striking out one and walking two. Angel Escobar pitched 1.2 innings, giving up one hit and striking out two.
Offensively, Fremont’s Carson Burnett was 2-for-5, with a double. Isaac Bonner went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Bridger Coleman was 2-for-4. Dylan Brandenburg was 1-for-4 with an RBI, and Brayden Hodges was 1-for-4, also with a run batted in.
Fremont scored six runs off ten hits and committed two errors. Oahe tallied four runs off six hits and had three errors.
Fremont (1-0) and Oahe (0-1) will play game two of their four-game weekend series Friday night at Hyde Stadium. First pitch is 6:05pm. The game will be broadcast on Big Dog Country, 98.9 FM and 1340 AM, KHUB. Audio will also stream on the Moo website at www.fremontmoo.com.
More Information: After a five-game road trip to begin the season, Fremont will play its first home game Thursday, May 30th when they host the Casper Spuds in game one of a two-game series. The matchup will be a rematch of the 2023 ILB Championship Series, which Fremont claimed three games to two, in August. Opening night at Historic Moller Field is “Thirsty Thursday”. Fans can purchase 16 ounce Busch, Bud Light and Michelob Ultra Beer for just $3. Also, there are $1 discounts on Coke products and Dasani bottled water. In addition, half of the proceeds from Thursday evening’s home opener will go to the Elkhorn Athletic Association to aid in tornado relief. For tickets and more information, go to www.fremontmoo.com/tickets.
