LANCASTER, Texas – The Hesston College baseball team played a pair of doubleheaders against Cedar Valley College on Friday (Feb. 14) and Saturday (Feb. 15). After winning the opening game of the series, the Larks struggled offensively scoring five runs in three games, moving to 1-5 overall.
Game 1 – Hesston College 10, Cedar Valley College 8
The Larks took control early in the opener and held on to win their first game of the season. Cutter Livermore put the Larks on the board in the first inning with an RBI triple to left field bring in Michael Clayton. The Suns tied the game in the home half, but the Larks regained the lead for good after a four-run second inning. The Larks loaded the bases as RJ Cruz was hit by a pitch, Sterling Lies drew a walk, and Clayton recorded his second base hit of the day before Lucas Dunn drove them all home with a double to left field. Livermore collected his second RBI of the day with a single in the following at-bat to put the Larks up 5-1.
The Suns scored two in the second and one in the third to trim the Lark lead to one. The teams traded blows in the fourth. The Larks scored three runs in the sixth thanks to miscues by the Suns, including four free passes to first and a botched fly ball that scored two runs. The Suns made it a one run game once again in the bottom of the inning, but a sacrifice bunt from Braylan Bell put the final nail in the coffin as the Larks won the opener 10-8.
Clayton finished 4-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Livermore and Dunn also recorded multiple hits and RBI's in the contest, three and two respectively.
Yuya Omata started the game for Hesston allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Colby Simkins earned his first save of the season tossing a nearly perfect inning in the seventh to clinch the win.
Game 2 – Hesston College 0, Cedar Valley College 3
The second game of this series shaped out to be a defensive duel as the game was scoreless entering the bottom of the fourth inning. The Suns scored once on a Lark fielding error and added two more in the fifth on a triple to right field. The Larks found themselves with runners in scoring position a few times, but were unable to cross the plate.
Jett Millsap, Bell and Clayton each recorded a hit in the contest.
Luke Richard went five innings as the Lark starter giving up three runs (zero earned) on three hits and one walk while striking out four.
Game 3 – Hesston College 5, Cedar Valley College 10
The Larks and Suns traded three-run blows in the opening frame. Hesston's runs came on a hit by pitch and a fielding error by the Suns. The Larks took the lead in the third as Colin Pitzer scored on a ground ball to the shortstop.
The Suns jumped out in front in the bottom of the fifth scoring three runs on three hits. The Larks scored one in the sixth on a ground ball from Livermore, cutting the Sun lead to 6-5, but the Suns kept their rhythm in the home half scoring four runs and icing the game.
Dunn went 2-for-4 in the contest and Dominic Garcia, Peel and Livermore each recorded an RBI.
Millsap was the starter for Hesston giving up six runs (two earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out four batters.
Game 4 – Hesston College 0, Cedar Valley College 11
The Suns found a spark early and kept their momentum rolling taking the final game of the series in five innings. Cedar Valley scored four in the first and second innings adding one in the third and two in the fourth.
The Larks only managed three hits in the contest and struggled to put runners in scoring position.
Clayton, Peel and Millsap each recorded a base knock in the game.
Michael Cook started the game for Hesston allowing four runs on four hits in one inning or work. He was replaced by Simkins who allowed five runs (one earned) on five hits in two frames.
