Hastings, Nebraska – The Hastings Sodbusters battled back from a four-run deficit and defeated The Fremont Moo, 9-8, Wednesday night at Duncan Field. The two teams have split the first two games of the three game series.
Fremont jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning. With one out, Carson Burnett doubled off Hastings starter Conlin Grady. A wild pitch advanced Burnett to second. Two batters later, Carter Sintek delivered a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Burnett, to make it 1-0.
The Moo extended its lead in the top of the second. With one out, Dylan Brandenburg singled and Trey Brooks was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Then, Josh Blount was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The next batter, Carson Burnett, hit a two rbi single, scoring Brandenburg and Brooks to make it 3-0, Fremont. On the play, an error in center field advanced Blount to third. Then, Cooper Fuchino hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Blount, to make it a 4-0 Fremont lead.
Hastings got on the board in the bottom of the second. Jared Delgado led off with a single against Fremont starter Kadyn Van Hill. Then, Luke Ray hit a bouncing ball to Dylan Brandenburg at third, but his throw to second went into right field, which put runners at the corners. Kyle Hiltbrand laid down a bunt and Kadyn Van Hill’s throw to first hit Hiltbrand in the back. Delgado scored to make it 4-1. Two batters later, Josh Prinner hit an rbi single, scoring Ray to make it 4-2. Then, Bryce Ronkin hit a sacrifice fly to center, bringing home Hiltbrand, to make it a 4-3 game.
Fremont got a run back in the top of the fourth. Trey Brooks drew a walk off Hastings reliever Creed Martin. Brooks took advantage of a passed ball and advanced from first to third. Three batters later, Cooper Fuchino hit an rbi single, scoring Brooks, to make it 5-3.
The Sodbusters captured their first lead of the night in the bottom of the fourth. Luke Ray led off with a single and Kyle Hiltbrand followed with the same. Taylor Gill singled, scoring Ray, to make it 5-4. Then, Josh Prinner hit into a fielder’s choice as Hiltbrand was caught in a rundown between third and home, for the first out. The next batter, Bryce Ronkin, hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Gill, to tie the game at 5-5. Then, Sawyer Duddleston singled, scoring Prinner, to put Hastings ahead, 6-5.
The Moo tied the game in the top of the fifth. Against Hastings reliever Creighton Jacobitz, Fremont’s Isaac Bonner singled. Two batters later, Dylan Brandenburg laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing Bonner to second. Then, a wild pitch got Bonner to third base. The next batter, Trey Brooks, hit a single to center, scoring Bonner, to make it 6-6.
Fremont recaptured the lead in the top of the sixth. Carson Burnett led off with a walk. Two batters later, Carter Sintek singled, to put runners at first and second. Then, Kayden Anderson singled, scoring Burnett, to make it 7-6, Fremont.
The Sodbusters put together a big bottom of the eighth to recapture the lead. Against Fremont reliever Luka Vukcevic, Hastings’ Luke Ray led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Then, Kyle Hiltbrand singled, scoring Ray, to tie the game at 7-7. A wild pitch advanced Hiltbrand to second. The next batter, Taylor Gill, drew a walk, to put runners at first and second. Fremont went to the bullpen and brought in Alex Oliver to pitch. The Sodbusters’ Josh Prinner drew a walk to load the bases. Then, Bryce Ronkin hit a bouncer to first and Carson Burnett threw home to force out pinch-runner Alexiel Delgado for the first out. Then, Sawyer Duddleston singled, scoring Gill, to make it 8-7, Hastings. The next batter, Ryan Jarvis, hit a bouncer to second which seemed to be a 4-6-3 inning ending double play. However, the base umpire ruled that Fremont shortstop Kayden Anderson did not make contact with second base on the play. Although Jarvis was out at first, Prinner scored, to make it a 9-7 Hastings lead.
Fremont battled in the top of the ninth. With two outs, Josh Blount singled off Hastings reliever Dino Morales. Then, Carson Burnett singled to put runners at first and second. Then, Cooper Fuchino hit an rbi single, scoring Blount, to make it 9-8. Carter Sintek came to the plate with the go-ahead runs on base. However, Morales got Sintek to bounce to shortstop, forcing Fuchino out at second, for the final out of the game.
Hastings (24-18, 9-10) scored nine runs off ten hits and committed three errors. Fremont (26-16, 13-5) had eight runs with fourteen hits and committed two errors.
Sodbusters’ starter Conlin Grady pitched 2.0 innings, giving up three earned runs off three hits, struck out three, walked two, and had one wild pitch. Creed Martin pitched 2.0 innings, giving up one run off one hit, struck out two and walked three. Creighton Jacobitz pitched 2.0 innings, giving up two runs off four hits, walked one and hit one batter. Dino Morales (1-2) earned the win. He pitched 3.0 innings, giving up one run off six hits, struck out two and walked one.
Fremont starter Kadyn Van Hill pitched 4.0 innings, giving up three earned runs off eight hits, struck out one, walked one, had one wild pitch and hit one batter. Bobby Simmons pitched 2.0 innings and struck out three. Luka Vukcevic (1-1) took the loss. He pitched 1.0 inning, giving up two runs off one hit, struck out one, walked three, had one wild pitch and hit one batter. Alex Oliver pitched 1.0 inning, giving up one run off one hit.
Offensively for Hastings, Taylor Gill was 2-for-4 with an rbi. Josh Prinner was 1-for-3 and drove in one run. Bryce Ronkin went 0-for-4 and had three rbi’s. Sawyer Duddleston was 2-for-3 and drove in two runs. Kyle Hiltbrand was 2-for-4 and had one rbi.
For Fremont, Josh Blount was 2-for-5. Carson Burnett was 3-for-5 with two rbi’s. Cooper Fuchino was 2-for-5 and drove in two runs. Kayden Anderson was 1-for-2 with an rbi. Isaac Bonner went 2-for-5. Dylan Brandenburg was 2-for-4. Trey Brooks was 1-for-3 and drove in one run.
The teams have split the first two games of the series. The rubber game will take place Thursday night at Duncan Field, with first pitch at 6:35 p.m.
