Hastings, Nebraska – Playing its final game of the first half of the Independence League Baseball Association schedule, The Fremont Moo took some momentum into the break with a 5-4 win over the Hastings Sodbusters at Duncan Field, Friday night. With the victory, Fremont wrapped up the first half on a two-game winning streak.
Although it was Fremont that came away victorious, Hastings began the scoring in the bottom of the first. Facing Fremont starter Logan Anderson, with two outs, the Sodbusters Kale Jensen reached on an error by Moo third baseman Isaac Bonner. Dino Morales drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Then, Ryan Jarvis hit a single, scoring Jensen, to make it 1-0. Morales would cross home plate on an Anderson wild pitch, putting Hastings up 2-0.
Fremont put together a big inning in the top of the fifth, sending ten batters to the plate and scoring five runs. Against Sodbusters starter Dalton Juden, Wyatt Yetter led off with a single. Then, Cooper Fuchino singled and Stephen Espinoza hit an rbi double, scoring Yetter, to make it 2-1. Grant Nottleman drew a walk. Then, two batters later, Isaac Bonner hit a two-rbi single, scoring Fuchino and Espinoza, to give Fremont its first lead at 3-2. Hastings went to the bullpen and brought in reliever Michael Hanna. Two batters later, Connor Petersen reached on an rbi infield single and throwing error by Hastings’ Josh Prinner at shortstop which allowed Bonner to score, to make it 5-2, The Moo.
The Sodbusters made some noise late. In the bottom of the eighth facing Fremont reliever Luka Vukcevic, Yamato Sato singled and Tyler Welsh was hit by a pitch. Fremont went to the bullpen and brought in Theo Hughes to pitch. After Nathan Masar hit into a fielder’s choice and Alexiel Delgado struck out, Drew Vega singled and Josh Prinner hit a two-rbi single, scoring Welsh and Masar, to make it a 5-4, Fremont lead. Hughes ended the threat by striking out Kale Jensen to finish the eighth.
After Fremont went scoreless in the top of the ninth, Hughes came out of the dugout to close out the game. He struck out Dino Morales for the first out. Then, Ryan Jarvis reached on a throwing error by Hunter Snyder at second base, which also advanced him to second. Hughes struck out Sato for the second out. Tyler Welsh drew a walk to put the winning run on base, with runners and first and second. Hughes delivered for The Moo, though, as he struck out Nathan Masar swinging at a 2-2 pitch, to end the game.
Fremont (13-11) scored five runs off eleven hits with four errors. Hastings (13-7) plated four runs off five hits and also committed four errors.
Moo starter Logan Anderson (1-0) earned the win. He pitched 6.0 innings, giving up two unearned runs off two hits, struck out four, walked five and committed one balk. Luke Vukcevic pitched 1.0 inning, giving up one run off one hit, struck out one, walked three and hit one batter. Theo Hughes (1) picked up the save. He pitched 1.2 innings, giving up one run off two hits, struck out five and walked one.
Sodbusters’ starter Dalton Juden (0-1) took the loss. He pitched 4.1 innings, giving up four earned runs off six hits, struck out six, walked three and hit one batter. Michael Hanna pitched 3.2 innings, giving up four hits, struck out four and walked three. Zander Hardy faced two batters and gave up one hit and one walk. Braden Cork worked 1.0 inning and struck out two.
Offensively for Fremont, Wyatt Yetter was 2-for-5. Cooper Fuchino was 2-for-6. Stephen Espinoza was 3-for-5 with one rbi. Isaac Bonner was 1-for-4 and drove in two. Connor Petersen was 1-for-3 with an rbi.
For Hastings, Drew Vega was 2-for-4. Ryan Jarvis was 1-for-4 with an rbi.
Fremont had multiple opportunities to score more runs throughout the night, but stranded seventeen baserunners.
Hastings will host the Nebraska Prospects in a doubleheader at Duncan Field, Saturday night.
Fremont is off until Monday, when they open a three-game series, to begin the second half of the ILB schedule at Historic Moller Field, hosting Hastings at 7:05 p.m.
