WINFIELD, Kan. – Day two of Southwestern College baseball's three-team event in Winfield was a massively positive one for the Builders, as they defeated Dordt in walk-off fashion to begin their day, and they finished the weekend with a 10-3 victory over the Central Christian Tigers in the nightcap of the tripleheader.

The first of the Moundbuilders' two battles on Saturday was against Dordt University, as the battle was a seesaw affair from the start. After Southwestern kept the Defenders off the board in the top of the first, they tallied three runs to take an early lead. An RBI infield single by Tyler Seboldt, including a second run that scored on the play, was followed by a run-scoring single to center field by Trevor Abitia.

Those three runs would be quickly answered by Dordt, as a wild pitch with the bases loaded and a subsequent two-run single evened the score at 3-3. Things would stay that way for the next two innings.

Then, with an RBI single in the top of the fourth, Dordt jumped in front with a 4-3 lead. But Southwestern was not fazed by the tally, as they responded with a run-scoring single through the left side by Chris Weatherford to drive home Andrew Brown for the squad's fourth run of the bout.

Runs would be tallied in every remaining inning, as both teams grabbed a run in the fifth on a run-scoring single by Dordt and a London Penland solo homer for SC. Then, in the sixth, Brown scored on a wild pitch and Penland reached first on a throwing error by the Defenders' third baseman to allow Weatherford to score. Those two tallies gave the Builders a 7-5 lead.

The seventh inning was full of surprises, as it seemed that the Builders would be able to escape with a victory. Instead, though, Dordt snagged three runs to take an 8-7 lead. Two of the three runs were unearned tallies and one was on an RBI single. That would not be the end for SC in this one, as Josh Crabtree worked a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the seventh before Seboldt turned around a 1-0 pitch and sent it over the left-field fence to win the game for the Moundbuilders in walk-off fashion on a mammoth homer. The 9-8 final score was a fitting one, as the two teams traded body blows all game long.

Game number two was much different, as the Tigers' offense could not get much going in the battle. Southwestern was not tearing the cover off the ball either, but they were able to scratch across the first run of the tilt in the bottom of the second on a Brady Johnson run-scoring two-bagger to bring home Jo. Crabtree.

The Builders scored three more times in the bottom of the third frame, as an RBI single by Joseph Finder put SC up 2-0. Then, Jo. Crabtree hit an RBI groundout to second base with one out and men at second and third, which moved both runners up. A wild pitch during the ensuing plate appearance by Seboldt, which ended in a walk, allowed Penland to cross te plate for the Builders' fourth run of the bout.

Finally, the Tigers got on the board in the top of the fourth with a double to left-center field that chased home a runner from second base to make it 4-1.

It took a bit for the Southwestern offense to get going again, as they finally did so in the sixth inning. They were heavily aided by lackluster defense, as well. Abitia swiped third base and was allowed to score on the play due to a wild throw into left field by the catcher, making it 5-1 Builders. Penland came to the plate with the bases juiced and smoked a single into left-center, which plated two more runs in the form of Weatherford and Brown. A two-RBI double by Jo. Crabtree, followed by another run-scoring knock by Seboldt made it 10-1 with just three outs remaining.

Central Christian did find a way to tally two more unearned runs in the top of the seventh, but it would be far from enough, as the Moundbuilders left Broadway with an undefeated day at the yard.

The Builders had 10 hits in each battle on Saturday, while outhitting each of their opponents. In the game against Dordt, all but two of the squad's starters had at least one hit in the tilt, with Seboldt (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, R), Penland (2-for-4, HR, RBI, SB), and Brown (2-for-3, 2B, 2 R) tying for the team-lead with two hits apiece. A similar trend continued against CCC, as all but one starter mashed a base hit in the second Builder win. Jo. Crabtree (2-for-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R, SB) and Penland (2-for-3, 2 RBI, R) were able to tally two hits each.

Gannon Dow started the squad's opener of the day against the Defenders, as he worked four innings of four-run ball on the bump. He allowed five hits, while striking out four hitters and walking four. Braden Ash relieved him and allowed one unearned run in one inning pitched. He also tallied three punchouts. Jacob Woodburn earned the win after shutting down Dordt in the sixth frame and allowing one earned run and two unearned tallies in the seventh. Only two pitchers were needed in the win over the Tigers, as Nathan Simmons hurled six innings and allowed only four hits and one unearned run. He struck out nine batters and issued just two free passes. Seboldt came in to relieve him, but he ended up allowing two unearned runs to score in the final half inning.

The victories close the book on a wildly productive weekend for the Builders (5-6). They will now play a midweek tilt at Newman University on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m., which will be a quick tune-up for their upcoming weekend set on the road at Mid America Christian University on Feb. 24 and 25 in Oklahoma City.

--buildersports.com--