WINFIELD, Kan. – Broadway Sports Complex played host to the final two matchups of Easter weekend for the Southwestern College baseball team. The two tilts against the York University Panthers to round out their weekend series were each controlled by York, as Southwestern fell down 7-0 in game one after eight frames and 12-0 in game two after the top of the first inning. In the end, Southwestern would score five runs in the ninth to make a 7-5 loss in the opener look more palatable, while they allowed only one run over the final six innings and scored thee runs in that span during affair number two. They lost that battle by a 13-3 final tally.
Early on in game one, the Panthers jumped onto the scoreboard with a run-scoring single through the right side of the infield with a pair of outs recorded in the inning. That would be the lone tally put up in that stanza, as neither side would score again until the top of inning number three.
An RBI groundout with runners at second and third with one out by York in the top of the third frame made it 2-0, before a run-scoring double was hit to right field, which made it 3-0 for the visitors after two-and-a-half.
Southwestern's bats were quiet for the most part, though they had a couple of opportunities with runners aboard in the second with less than two outs. Situational hitting was the squad's Achilles heel in the early stages. They surrendered another run in the fourth on an RBI single to center field by the Panthers that made it 4-0.
Then, after a scoreless period from the bottom of the fourth to the bottom of the fifth, York added another run in the sixth inning on a strikeout with a runner at third base. The pitch bounced away from the catcher and the runner was able to cross the plate to score the fifth Panther run of the game.
Two more runs would come across for York in the eighth, as an RBI groundout and a sacrifice fly to left field were responsible for the two tallies.
With a 7-0 deficit and just one half-inning remaining to be played, SC battled with a five-run frame, as all five runs came in to score against the York starting pitcher, who was replaced with two outs recorded in the inning. A pinch-hit RBI single by David Morales got the scoring going, as he drove in Tyler Seboldt. Then, Chris Weatherford supplied a run-scoring infield knock to send Travis Popenhagen across the plate. Finally, London Penland drilled a three-run homer to left-center field to finish off the Moundbuilder scoring in the ninth, as the Panther closer came in to retire the final hitter, sealing the 7-5 Moundbuilder loss.
Game two was a completely different animal, as York scored 12 runs in the very first inning, as it took three Builder pitchers to record three outs in the frame. The 12 tallies were scored on 10 hits and an error by Southwestern, as SC faced an uphill battle from the earliest point possible in the battle.
The remainder of the game was not bad for the Builders, as they actually outscored the Panthers 3-1 over the last six innings of the bout. Southwestern finally got onto the board in the third inning, when a double play resulted in the first of three SC runs.
An RBI groundout in the fifth by Penland drove home Weatherford, making it a 12-2 deficit at that point in the contest.
York scored their final run of the day on a solo homer in the seventh, while the Builders had an RBI groundout from Marcus Burton to score Weatherford to end the game at a 13-3 tally.
Building upon his stellar game on Friday, Weatherford boasted another amazing day in the batter's box. He went 5-for-8 on the afternoon, and had multiple hits in each game. He scored four runs, drove in one run and stole four bases on the afternoon. For the series, he boasted a 9-for-13 (.692) clip. The quartet of Penland (game one), Seboldt (game one), Noah Prince (game one) and Josh Crabtree (game two) also had multi-hit games on the afternoon.
Gannon Dow's day on the bump in game one was solid, as he managed to get through five innings with four runs allowed (three earned). Micah Cleveland made his season debut in relief, as he returned from Tommy John surgery in the offseason. His day was a good one, and really should have ended without allowing a run, as his strikeout pitch bounced away and allowed the batter to reach with a runner at third who also scored. Otherwise, he allowed two hits and a run over one inning of work with two strikeouts. Jared Stoffel closed things out by allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits over three innings. He had one strikeout.
Nathan Simmons' start was not his best, as he retired just one hitter and allowed six runs (four earned). Jacob Woodburn was first in relief and struggled as well, as he afforded York six runs (two earned) on four hits. Then, Reyden Rull came in to secure the final two outs of the inning and did not allow a run on his line through 2.2 innings of work. He gave up four hits on the afternoon. Trevor Sides pitched two scoreless frames in relief, striking out two in the process, and Clay Stoner allowed one run on two hits to close out the day. He recorded one punchout, as well.
Southwestern (8-30, 2-20 KCAC) will be on the road next to face the Spires of the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kan. on Saturday, Apr. 15 and Sunday, Apr. 16. Saturday's doubleheader is slated to begin at 1 p.m., and the lone bout on Sunday will also begin at 1 p.m. in northeastern Kansas.
--buildersports.com--
