LA JUNTA, Colo. - A six-run fifth inning followed a three-run sixth sent the Dodge City Community College baseball team to a 10-2 season opening loss before bouncing back for an 8-5 game two win over Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colorado on Friday, February 17th. 

DC3 is now 1-1 on the season while the Rattlers sit at 1-9 overall. 

In game one, Dodge City would never lead as Otero would jump out to a 1-0 lead after two innings before the Conquistadors would tie the game in the top of the third. Things would go scoreless for the next inning and a half before the Rattlers plate six runs on four hits and a passed ball in the bottom half of the fifth to take a commanding 7-1 lead. Otero would tack on another three runs in the sixth before DC3 would manage just a single run in the seventh to drop their season opener. 

Dodge City was limited to just four hits in the game while the Rattlers would pound out 10 while getting five innings of one-run pitching from winning pitcher Eduardo Caldera Flores. Cole Brandon would take the loss on the mound for the Conquistadors, tossing 4.1 innings while giving up six runs on five hits and striking out eight. DC3's four hits would be scattered among Jake Pederson, Dauson Tate, Richard Fullerton, and Gavin Gifford with Fullerton and Cole Bergdall driving in the two Dodge City runs. 

Game two would be a much different story as DC3 would push across two runs in the top of the first on a Fullerton double. Holding onto a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth, Otero would tie the game at four by pushing across two runs on two hits and one error. Each team would leave the bases loaded in their respective half of the fifth inning, as the Conquistadors would string together three straight hits to regain the lead at 4-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth. Not to be outdone, the Rattlers would once again knot the game by taking advantage of a Dodge City error leaving the game tied heading into the final inning of play. DC3 would finally break out in the seventh to push across four runs and take the lead for good when Isaak Snyder would single through the right side to score pinch runner Eric Reid. Robert Perea would then reach on a fielder's choice and push across two more runs on a throwing error by the Rattler shortstop, which would score Talon Schaller and Snyder. Perea would move over to third on a Cade engle fly out to center field before scoring on a wild pitch which would be more than enough run support for the Conquistadors. Otero's last chance to tie the game would fall short, as the Rattler's would only push across one run as Dodge City would salvage the twinbill split. 

Dalton Harvey would pick up the pitching decision in relief, throwing an inning and a third while allowing three hits and one run. Snyder would play the hero at the plate for the Conquistadors, going two-for-three with one run batted in while also scoring run. Engle and Cook would each record two hits at the top of the order with DC3's one through four hitter collecting six of the nine hits in the game for Dodge City. 

The Rattlers and Conquistadors will meet up again on Sunday afternoon, with a 1 p.m. doubledip at Cavalier Field in Dodge City.