LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – Due to a weather delay on Saturday, the Southwestern College baseball team played game two and three of their weekend series, against the Spires of the University of Saint Mary, on Sunday afternoon. A windy day with difficult conditions ended in two losses, as the Builders dropped game one of the day by a final of 9-4, and fell in the latter tilt by a 2-1 score.
Game one started in favor of the Spires, as they were able to put two runs on the scoreboard to take an early lead. A single to right field and a single up the middle resulted in two runs scored, putting them up 2-0 after the first inning.
The Builders then responded in the top of the second inning, as Brady Johnson doubled down the right-field line to earn his first RBI of the game. Tyler Seboldt ran home to score the first Builder run on the day.
After a scoreless third inning, both teams continued to add runs on the scoreboard. The Builders put forth runs first in the fourth. Seboldt smashed a ball to earn an RBI double, as Marcus Burton came home on the play to even the score at 2-2. The Spires responded in the bottom of the fourth, adding one run to their tally, and taking a 3-2 lead into inning number five. A ground out to the shortstop resulted in that RBI for the Spires.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Moundbuilders then added two runs to their score to go ahead for the first time in the bout. Josh Crabtree hit a single to earn his first RBI of the game, as Burton scored. The second run was scored on a wild pitch, as Jo. Crabtree scampered home to score.
Unfortunately, the Builders could not stop what came next. The Spires scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead for good, as the Builders were not able to respond. A double to left center resulted in a three-RBI double, a fielder's choice scored a run for USM, and two doubles to the left side that resulted in two additional runs put the game out of reach for the Builders, who did not score for the remainder of the tilt. In the end, it was a 9-4 win for the Spires over Southwestern.
The finale had a slow start, as both teams struggled to get anything rolling on offense for the first three innings. In the top of the fourth inning, the Builders finally scored their first run as Jo. Crabtree grounded out to second base to allow London Penland to cross the plate. The 1-0 lead did not stay for too long, as the Spires snagged a run in the bottom of the fourth inning on a solo homer, which tied the game at 1-1.
The game went on, and both pitchers continued to dominate. Neither side was able to get anything going, and the game seemed to be locked in a stalemate, until the Spires scored a last-minute run in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the game by a final score of 2-1. It was an unfortunate ending to the game for SC, as an error by the Builders afforded the Spires the winning run in walk-off fashion. It was the second walk-off loss of the weekend for Southwestern.
The offense for the Moundbuilders provided 11 hits in the first game on Sunday, but could only muster four hits in the series finale. Three multi-hit efforts were tallied by the Builders, as Seboldt (3-for-4, 2 2B, RBI, R, (GM 1)), Burton (2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, (GM 1)) and Penland (2-for-3, R, SB, (GM 2)) provided those performances. All but one hitter in game one's starting lineup had at least one hit, but in game two, only three hitters recorded knocks for Southwestern.
Gannon Dow started game one of the day for SC, tossing five innings from the rubber. He allowed just three runs on five hits, as well as three walks in that time, with four strikeouts. Dylan Navarrette continued his hot streak on the bump of late, holding Saint Mary off the board in his lone inning of work, with just one hit allowed and a punchout. Taylor Petty struggled in his two-thirds of an inning, coughing up six runs (five earned) on five hits. Reyden Rull would toss the final 1.1 innings in game one, allowing just one hit and striking out two batters.
Jo. Crabtree had a great day on the slab, giving up only five hits and two runs (one earned) across his 6.1 innings on the hill. He allowed just a solo homer and the winning run on an error by SC in the seventh. He struck out three and walked two in the loss.
The Builders (8-33, 2-23 KCAC) continue on in their KCAC slate on Tuesday, Apr. 18, when they face Friends University in Wichita. The tilt signifies the final road game of the 2023 campaign for the Moundbuilders, and will be played at 3 p.m.
--buildersports.com--
