Fremont, Nebraska – Coming off a three day break, The Fremont Moo looked rested and the bats were vibrant in a 10-5 victory over the Nebraska Prospects in Independence League Baseball Association action, Wednesday night at Historic Moller Field. While taking the first game of the five game series, Fremont extended its winning streak to four games.
After a scoreless first inning, The Prospects got on the board in the top of the second. Against Fremont starter Bobby Simmons, The Prospects Nathan Vermoss led off with a single and Brice Wallar did the same to put runners at first and second. A wild pitch advanced Vermoss to third. Two batters later, Bodi Wallar hit a ground ball to short, scoring Vermoss to make it a 1-0 Prospects lead.
Fremont tied the game in the bottom of the second. Making his Moo season debut after returning from a near career threatening injury in the college season, Fremont native Carter Sintek singled off Prospects starter P.J. Loucks to lead off the inning. Jack Torosian walked to put runners at first and second. Then, a Loucks balk advanced the runners to second and third. Two batters later, Isaac Bonner hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Sintek, to tie the score at 1-1.
The Prospects recaptured the lead in the top of the third. With two outs, Nathan Vermoss reached on a walk. Brice Wallar singled and Jackson Trout delivered an rbi single, scoring Vermoss, to put The Prospects ahead, 2-1.
The Moo responded and took the lead for good in the bottom of the third. Josh Blount led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bridger Coleman reached on an infield single to put runners at first and second. Two batters later, Tyrus Petsche smacked an rbi double, plating Blount, to make it a 2-2 game. A second balk by Loucks allowed Coleman to score to make it 3-2, Fremont. Then, Carter Sintek singled, scoring Petsche, to put Fremont ahead, 4-2.
Fremont extended the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Dylan Brandenburg led off with a walk. Then, Josh Blount singled to put runners at first and third. The Prospects went to the bullpen and brought in Charlie Mosser to pitch. The first batter he faced, Bridger Coleman, singled, driving home Brandenburg, to make it 5-2, The Moo. Three batters later, Carter Sintek walked, then Jack Torosian did the same, with the bases loaded, scoring Blount, to put Fremont ahead, 6-2.
The Prospects fought back in the top of the fifth. Easton Swafford led off the inning by hitting the first pitch from Simmons over the right field fence, making it 6-3.
The Moo added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Dylan Brandenburg was hit by a pitch. An errant pickoff attempt at first advanced Brandenburg to second. Then, a wild pitch, plus a throwing error by catcher Ellliot Peterson, scored Brandenburg to make it 7-3, Fremont. Josh Blount drew a walk, then stole second. Bridger Coleman singled, then Cooper Fuchino hit an rbi double, scoring Blount, to put Fremont up 8-3.
The Prospects made things interesting in the top of the seventh. Versus Moo reliever Parker Otte, Elliott Peterson singled. Then, J.D. DiPrima doubled to put runners at second and third. A passed ball scored Peterson, to make it 8-4. Then, Brice Wallar grounded out to second, scoring DiPrima, to make it an 8-5 game.
Fremont kept the bats going in the bottom of the seventh. Against reliever J.T. Roy, Dylan Brandenburg singled, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, then scored on a balk, to make it a 9-5 Fremont lead.
The Moo added one more run for good measure in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs, Stephen Espinoza hit a solo home run over the “Moller Monster” to put Fremont up 10-5.
In the top of the ninth, Fremont reliever Theo Hughes worked around a one-out walk to retire the final two batters and close out The Moo 10-5 victory.
Fremont (22-14, 9-3) scored ten runs off fourteen hits with no errors. The Prospects (5-17, 0-7) had five runs off ten hits with two errors.
Moo starter Bobby Simmons (3-0) picked up the win. He pitched 5.1 innings, giving up three runs off eight hits, struck out three, walked three, yielded a home run, a wild pitch and hit one batter. Parker Otte pitched 1.2 innings, giving up two runs off two hits, struck out one and walked one. Theo Hughes pitched 2.0 innings, struck out three, walked one and had one wild pitch.
Prospects starter P.J. Loucks (0-3) took the loss. He pitched 3.0 innings, giving up six runs off seven hits, struck out four and walked two, committed two balks and had one wild pitch. Charlie Mosser pitched 3.0 innings, giving up one earned run off five hits, struck out one, walked three, had one wild pitch and hit one batter. J.T. Roy pitched 2.0 innings, giving up two runs off two hits, struck out three, walked one, yielded a home run, committed one balk and had one wild pitch.
Offensively for Fremont, Josh Blount was 2-for-4. Bridger Coleman went 3-for-4 with an rbi. Cooper Fuchino was 1-for-4 and drove in one run. Tyrus Petsche was 2-for-4 with an rbi. Carter Sintek was 2-for-4 and drove in one run. Jack Torosian went 1-for-3 with an rbi. Stephen Espinoza was 2-for-5 with a solo home run. Isaac Bonner was 0-for-5, but drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.
For The Prospects, Easton Swafford was 1-for-5 with a solo home run. Elliott Peterson was 2-for-5. Brice Wallar went 2-for-4 with an rbi. Jackson Trout was 1-for-2 and drove in one run. Bodi Wallar was 0-for-3 with an rbi.
The two teams will play game two of their five game series Thursday night. First pitch at Historic Moller Field is 7:05 p.m.
