Hastings, Nebraska – The Fremont Moo had a much needed day off Sunday, after playing eleven games in ten days which culminated in Fremont dropping their last three contests. However, a new start to the week produced the same result as Fremont lost to the Hastings Sodbusters, 3-1, Monday night at Duncan Field, running The Moo losing skid to four straight.
The game was scoreless through the first two innings, but Hastings got on the board in the bottom of the third. Against Fremont starter Dylan Driessen, Alexiel Delgado drew a leadoff walk. Then, Drew Vega singled to put runners at first and second. The next batter, Josh Prinner, laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners to second and third. Then, Sawyer Dudleston delivered an rbi single, scoring Delgado, to make it 1-0. Two batters later, Dino Morales hit a single, driving home Vega, to put the Sodbusters up, 2-0. A passed ball by catcher Grant Nottleman allowed Dudleston to score, making it 3-0, the Sodbusters.
Fremont had its most productive inning in the top of the seventh. Against reliever Brendon Wabick, Cooper Fuchino led off with a walk. Two batters later, Connor Petersen hit a ball to the hole at shortstop which was misplayed by Josh Prinner, giving Fremont runners at first and second. Isaac Bonner driew a walk which loaded the bases. Hastings went to the bullpen and brought in Tyler Welsh who struck out Cole Fowler looking and walked Josh Blount, which scored Fuchino. But, with the bases loaded and two outs, Welsh got Wyatt Yetter to pop out to third base, for the final out of the inning.
The score remained 3-1, going into the top of the ninth. Hastings reliever Braden Cork began his second inning of relief. The Moo attempted a two out rally when Josh Blount singled. However, Cork got Yetter to bounce out to third base for the final out of the game.
Hastings (11-5) scored three runs off five hits and committed one error. Fremont (11-9) had one run off six hits with no errors.
Hastings starter Nathan Masar (1-1) picked up the win. He pitched 5.0 innings, giving up three hits, struck out five, walked one and hit one batter. Brendon Wabick pitched 1.1 innings, giving up one unearned run off two hits, struck out two, walked one and had two wild pitches. Tyler Welsh pitched 0.2 innings, giving up one hit, struck out one and walked one. Braden Cork (3) earned the save with 2.0 innings of relief, giving up one hit and one strikeout.
Fremont starter Dylan Driessen (1-1) took the loss. He pitched 6.0 innings, giving up three runs off five hits, struck out seven and walked four. Bobby Simmons pitched 2.0 innings, striking out one and walking one.
Offensively for Hastings, Drew Vega was 2-for-3. Sawyer Dudleston was 1-for-4 with an rbi. Dino Morales was 1-for-4 and drove in one run.
For Fremont, Josh Blount was 2-for-4 with an rbi. Cooper Fuchino was 2-for-3.
Hastings will host The Plainsmen, Tuesday night. Fremont will travel to Casper, Wyoming and take on the league-leading Spuds. With the loss Monday night, Fremont remains in third place in the ILB standings and is 4.0 games behind Casper. The Moo have four games left to play in the ILB first-half schedule.
Tuesday night’s Moo/Spuds game begins at 7:30 p.m. (CT) at Mike Lansing Field, in Casper.
