Fremont, Nebraska – After dropping the first game of a four-game holiday weekend series versus The Plainsmen on the Fourth of July, and winning the next two matchups, The Fremont Moo claimed the series with a 12-3 victory, Sunday at Historic Moller Field. Fremont catcher Cooper Fuchino drove in six runs to lead The Moo to the win.
Following script in all four games of the series, The Plainsmen struck first, doing so in the top of the first inning. Against Fremont newcomer Gage Ingram, The Plainsmen’s Brody Boyle singled with one out. Then, Luke Froehlich hit a two-run home run over the left-center field fence, to make it a 2-0 Plainsmen lead.
The Moo responded quickly in the bottom of the first, taking the lead, which they would not relinquish. Versus Plainsmen starter Luis Lepe, Fremont’s Jack Torosian led off with a walk. Then, Bridger Colman singled, to put runners at first and second. The next batter, Cooper Fuchino, hit a Lepe 0-2 pitch over the left-center field fence for a three-run home run, putting The Moo ahead, 3-2.
In the bottom of the third inning, Coleman led off with a walk, then stole second base. Three batters later, Stephen Espinoza hit an rbi double, scoring Coleman, to make it 4-2, Fremont. Espinoza stole third, and on an errant throw by Plainsmen catcher Sam Bradshaw, Espinoza scored, to make it 5-2, Fremont.
Fremont added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Against reliever Jerry Smith, Fremont’s Trey Brooks drew a walk, then stole second. Three batters later, Jack Torosian was hit by a pitch. After Bridger Coleman drew a walk to load the bases, Fuchino hit a two-rbi single, to put The Moo up 7-2.
The Plainsmen got a run back in the top of the fifth inning. Kyle Whitaker led off and hit an Ingram 0-2 pitch over the left-center field fence, to make it a 7-3 game.
However, Fremont took control for the remainder of the contest. In the bottom of the fifth, The Moo sent ten batters to the plate and scored four runs. Tyrus Petsche led off with a single, then stole second base. Stephen Espinoza drew a walk and Carson Burnett did the same. Then, Trey Brooks hit a two-rbi double down the left field line, scoring Petsche and Espinoza, to make it 9-3. Two batters later, Hayden Kelberlau drew a walk to load the bases. Then, Jack Torosian hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Burnett, to make it 10-3. Bridger Coleman drew a walk to put runners at first and second. A balk by Smith advanced the runners to second and third. Then, Collin Pitts drew a walk to load the bases. The Plainsmen went to the bullpen and brought in Brodie Arnold to pitch. He walked Fuchino, which scored Brooks, to make it a 11-3 Fremont lead.
Fremont added one more run in the bottom of the sixth. Stephen Espinoza led off with a walk. Then, Carson Burnett singled, to put runners at first and second. Espinoza stole third, then scored on a wild pitch, to make it 12-3.
The score remained the same going into the top of the ninth. Fremont went to the bullpen and brought in Dylan Brandenburg to pitch. He faced one batter and gave up a single to Andrew Cuff. Then, The Moo brought in Alex Oliver to finish the game. Oliver struck out the next two batters before walking Chase Reynolds. But the right-handed closer got Dean Samuel to pop out to second base for the final out of the game.
Fremont (21-14, 8-3) scored twelve runs off nine hits and committed two errors. The Plainsmen (1-16, 1-11) had three runs off six hits and committed one error.
Moo starter Gage Ingram (1-0) earned the win. He worked 5.0 innings, giving up three runs off five hits, struck out two and walked one and gave up two home runs. Luka Vukcevic pitched 1.0 inning, struck out one and hit one batter. Zach Vincent pitched 1.0 inning and hit two batters. Logan Anderson pitched 1.0 inning and struck out two. Dylan Brandenburg faced one batter and gave up a hit. Alex Oliver pitched 1.0 inning and struck out two and walked one.
Plainsmen starter Luis Lepe (0-1) took the loss. He pitched 3.0 innings giving up four earned runs off four hits, struck out one and walked two and gave up one home run. Jerry Smith pitched 1.2 innings, giving up six runs off three hits, struck out one, committed one balk and hit one batter. Brodie Arnold pitched 3.1 innings, giving up one run off two hits, struck out four and walked four.
Offensively for Fremont, Jack Torosian was 0-for-3 with an rbi sacrifice fly. Cooper Fuchino was 3-for-4 with a three-run home run and six rbi’s. Tyrus Petsche was 2-for-5. Stephen Espinoza was 1-for-2 and drove in one run. Trey Brooks was 1-for-3 with two runs batted in.
For The Plainsmen, Luke Froehlich was 1-for-2 with a two-run home run. Kyle Whitaker was 1-for-1 with a solo home run.
The Plainsmen concluded their 2024 season. Fremont will have two days off before they continue their season long 16-game homestand. The Moo will begin a five-game series versus the Nebraska Prospects, beginning Wednesday night.
More Information: With Sunday’s win, Fremont has won three in a row and has battled back into playoff contention. Just one full game separates Hastings, Spearfish and Fremont for second place in the race for the second-best overall record in the ILB standings. With seventeen games remaining, The Moo are trying to win the ILB second half, or if Casper takes the second half crown, then Fremont is attempting to have the next best overall record to qualify for the ILB championship series, at the end of the month.
Wednesday’s game between Fremont and The Nebraska Prospects begins at 7:05 p.m. at Historic Moller Field. It will be “Winning Wednesday”, with giveaways during every inning.
