Two 5-Run Innings Lead to Day 1 Sweep at Friends
(Wichita, KS) – The Broncos traveled down to Kansas to face Friends in a four-game series, and had a five-run inning in both games on Friday to pick up the wins. They won game one by a score of 9-6 in eight innings, then won game two, 6-2.
(Wichita, KS) – The Broncos traveled down to Kansas to face Friends in a four-game series, and had a five-run inning in both games on Friday to pick up the wins. They won game one by a score of 9-6 in eight innings, then won game two, 6-2.
In the first game, no runs occurred until the third inning when senior Jace Valdez led off with a single and after going to third on back-to-back bunts, he scored on a wild pitch. Friends came back with three runs in the next half inning to take a 3-1 lead.
With one out in the fifth, senior Chris Faherty and freshman Jake Sweet were both hit by pitches and stole bases to get in scoring position. Sophomore Tyler Rojas drove in Faherty on an RBI single to center. Junior Evan Morrison then put down a bunt, allowing Sweet to score on a play and tie the game at three.
Hastings took a brief lead in the sixth on an RBI single by Valdez, scoring senior Tristan Martinez, who doubled to begin the inning. Friends got a run back in the bottom of the sixth, tying it at four.
The Broncos erupted for five runs in the eighth, as T. Martinez broke the tie with a leadoff home run. Three straight singles, including two on bunts, scoring freshman Diego Martinez on the second bunt. With one out, Rojas scored Valdez on a sac fly and Morrison sent one over the fence to take a 9-4 lead.
Friends cut the lead to three on a two-out, two-run RBI single, but junior Ryder Derouin came out of the bullpen and got a strikeout to end the game with a 9-6 victory.
Morrison went 3-5 with a home run at the plate, totaling three RBIs. T. Martinez, who also went deep in the game, finished 3-4 with two runs scored. Valdez was also 3-4 with two runs and an RBI, while Faherty was 2-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Freshman Connor Weber pitched 5.1 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits and struck out four. Senior Spencer Searcey got the win, pitching 1.2 scoreless innings in relief without allowing a hit and striking out two. Derouin got the save for his strikeout of the final batter.
In game two, the Falcons got on the board first, as a two-out triple came around to score on an infield single to go up 1-0.
Neither team would score again until the fifth when Hastings got the bats going, scoring five in the inning. T. Martinez doubled to start the inning and then with two outs and runners on the corners following an intentional walk to Morrison, junior Joshren Mace Magnaye drove both runners in on a double to left field. Senior Kaden Steen got on with an infield hit and after junior Dylan Wimbs was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Faherty's double to left scored all three to go up 5-1.
Hastings added to their lead in the seventh, as Faherty reached on a hit-by-pitch and scored two batters later on a double by T. Martinez, making it 6-1. The first two Friends batters reached in the bottom of the seventh. The Falcons got a run back on a one-out RBI groundout, but senior Brody Severin, who pitched the seventh inning, forced a groundout to end the game and secure the 6-2 victory.
After allowing a run on two hits in the first inning, junior Evan Chavez then threw five scoreless innings on three hits, finishing the game with four strikeouts. Faherty was 2-3 in the game with a double and a triple, ending with three RBIs and a run scored. Mace Magnaye was 2-2 at the plate with a double, contributing two RBIs and a run scored, while Martinez was 2-4 on a pair of doubles with an RBI and a run scored.
Up next, Hastings will play two more games against Friends tomorrow at 12 and 2:30pm.
