Fremont, Nebraska – Sunday afternoon at Historic Moller Field, the weather conditions were pristine for baseball. However, The Fremont Moo could not get any fair weather plays to go their way against the ILB leading Casper Spuds, for the second straight game, in a 10-1 loss.
Casper began the scoring in the top of the first. Against Fremont starter Logan Anderson, Casper’s Elijah Reeves led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Wesley Flatt drew a walk and two batters later Josh Phillips did the same. Then, Kenny Jackson hit a two-rbi single to right, scoring Reeves and Flatt, to put The Spuds ahead, 2-0. An error by Trey Brooks in right field put runners at second and third. Then, Chase Burke hit a hot shot near short, but the ball hit the lip of the grass in front of Moo shortstop Steven Espinoza, and shot into center field for a two-rbi single, plating Phillips and Jackson, to make it a 4-0 Casper advantage.
The Spuds added to the lead in the top of the sixth. Against Fremont reliever Hayden Kelberlau, Parker Burt drew a walk, with one out. Then, Elijah Reeves singled, putting runners at first and second. A base on balls to Wesley Flatt loaded the bases. Then, Dylan Schlotterback hit a ground ball to short that forced out Flatt, but the relay throw to first by Parker Mooney was high, scoring Burt, to make it a 5-0, Casper lead.
Casper added two more runs in the top of the seventh. The Spuds put together three consecutive hits against Kelberlau. Kenny Jackson doubled, then Chase Burke did the same, scoring Jackson, to make it 6-0. Matt Marsic singled, bringing home Burke, to put Casper up 7-0. Marsic stole second, then third. With one out, Parker Burt hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Marsic, to make it an 8-0 Casper lead.
The Spuds added to the tally in the top of the eighth. Against Fremont reliever Alex Oliver, Dylan Schlotterback doubled. Then, Kody Clausius singled to put runners at the corners. Two batters later, Maddox Henderson hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Schlotterback, to make it a 9-0, Spuds advantage.
Casper added one more in the top of the ninth. Hunter Billingsley led off with a single. Then, Stone Vacek hit a ground ball to short, where Fremont forced out Billingsley, but Mooney’s relay throw to first was high, allowing Vacek to reach safely. Elijah Reeves singled. Then, Chandler Stocking hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Vacek, to put Casper up 10-0.
The Moo did get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs, Bridger Coleman drew a walk against reliever Chris Bedgood. Then, Tyrus Petsche doubled off the top of the left field fence, putting runners at second and third. Parker Mooney walked to load the bases before Stephen Espinoza did the same, bringing home Coleman, to make it 10-1. Casper went to the bullpen and brought in Terris Williams, who got Fremont’s Isaac Bonner to line out to shortstop for the final out of the game.
Casper (23-4, 4-0) won its thirteenth straight game and scored ten runs off fourteen hits with no errors. Fremont (18-13, 5-2) dropped its second in a row after scoring one run off ten hits, but committed four errors.
The Spuds starter Ty Vollmer (5-0) picked up the win. He pitched 7.0 innings, giving up nine hits, struck out two, walked one and committed one balk. Armani Knipper worked 1.0 inning, striking out three, walked one, hit one batter and committed one balk. Chris Bedgood pitched 0.2 innings, giving up one run off one hit and walked three. Terris Williams pitched 0.1 innings, getting the line out of Bonner, to end the game.
Fremont starter Logan Anderson (1-1) took the loss. He pitched 5.0 innings giving up three earned runs off five hits, struck out three, walked six, had one wild pitch and hit one batter. Hayden Kelberlau pitched 2.0 innings giving up three earned runs off five hits, struck out two and walked two. Alex Oliver pitched 2.0 innings giving up one earned run off four hits, and struck out two.
Offensively for Casper, Elijah Reeves for 4-for-5. Chandler Stocking was 0-for-1 with an rbi. Kenny Jackson was 2-for-4 and drove in two runs. Chase Burke went 2-for-3 with three rbi’s. Maddox Henderson was 0-for-1 and drove home one run. Matt Marsic was 1-for-3 with an rbi. Parker Burt was 2-for-3 and had one run batted in.
For Fremont, Miles Meadows was 3-for-5. Tyrus Petsche went 2-for-5. Stephen Espinoza was 1-for-3 with one run batted in.
Casper is off Monday and will host the Oahe Zap in a two-game series beginning Tuesday, at Mike Lansing Field.
Fremont will have its longest break of the season. The Moo take three days off before they continue their 16-game home stand, beginning a four-game series with The Plainsmen, Thursday, July 4th, at 5:05 p.m., at Historic Moller Field.
