Conquistador Baseball Sweeps Four Game Series with Iowa Lakes

The Dodge City Community College baseball program welcomed the Lakers of Iowa Lakes Community College baseball program to Cavalier Field with open arms, sweeping them in a four-game weekend series.

The Conquistadors opened Day One with an 17-13 game one victory, followed by a 14-8 game two win. The home team closed the weekend by winning the final two games by scores of 18-7 and 10-6.

The Conquistador offense scored 56 runs across the four-game series, for an average of 14 runs per game which drops their season average to a mere 15.4 runs per game.

Dodge City's 123 runs over their eight games played puts them in the top-50 nationally for runs scored, despite playing significantly less games than other teams ranked ahead of them.

The Conquistadors found themselves trailing in each of the four games played this weekend, but the howling wind at Cavalier Field proved that no lead was safe.

 "I am obviously happy with the results from the weekend," said head coach Phil Stephenson. "The games gave us an opportunity to learn a lot more about ourselves. Our offense continued to produce and I liked the way we battled back when trailing in all four games. It was a tough weekend to pitch but we had some guys step up and put up zeros when we needed it. I am looking forward to starting league play this weekend as it will give us a better gauge on our overall team."

Game 1 | 17-13 W

The Conqs found themselves trailing 12-7 heading into the bottom of the 5^th inning, but a nine-run 5^th to take a 16-12 lead proved to be the game's final lead change.

The teams each scored a run in the 6^th to produce the final score of 17-13.

Luke Smith took the mound in relief in the 5^th inning and came away with the win. Offensively, the Conqs were led by Jake Miller's 2-4 outing with two RBIs and one homerun. Noah Thompson (3-5), Braden Dedrick (3-4), Joe Daneff (2-4), and Trent Trammell (2-2) also recorded multiple hits.

Game 2 | 14-8 W

Another late deficit turned into a runaway victory for the Conquistadors in game two of the series. Trailing 8-4 in the bottom of the 5^th, the Conquistadors scored three runs in the 5^th and seven in the 6^th to take a 14-8 lead, the game's final score.

Walker Greenlee got the win in relief for the Conquistadors. Noah Thompson (2-4), Jake Miller (3-4), and Kory Schmidt (4-4) each hit home runs for the Conqs in the game.

Game 3 | 18-7 W

Holding onto an 8-6 lead going into the bottom of the 6^th inning, the Conq offense exploded for a 10-run 6^th to take a commanding 18-6 lead.

The Laker pitchers were all over the strike zone as they hit six Conquistador batters while giving up six home runs in the game.

Seth Ochoa (2-3) and Jake Miller (2-4) each recorded two home runs with Kory Schmidt (3-3) and Kyler Copeland (1-4) adding one apiece for good measure.

Jake Shafer recorded the start and the win on the afternoon for the Conquistadors with Jace Notbohm getting credit for a save. Shafer moves to 2-0 in his two appearances while Notbohm receives credit for his first save of the year.

Game 4 | 10-6 W

The final game of the series proved to be the only contest that the Conquistadors held the lead heading into the 5^th inning.

Up 5-3, the Conquistadors expanded their lead to 8-3 with a three-run 5^th. Iowa Lakes responded with three runs of their own in the 6^th, off the strength of two home runs, to close in on the Conqs and make the score 8-6.

Two insurance runs in the bottom of the 6^th for the Conquistadors proved to be two too many as the Conqs shut down the Lakers offense in the top of the 7^th to hold on to their victory.

Alex Smith paced the offense with his 3-4, two homerun outing. Kory Schmidt added another homerun for the Conquistador offense, his fifth of the season and fourth in five games.

Ashton Jenkins picked up his first win on the season in his third appearance with Joe Daneff recording his first save of the season in his second appearance on the mound in relief.

Dodge City moves to 7-1 on the season as they begin KJCCC play on Thursday, March 11^th on the road in Colby, Kansas for a doubleheader at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm CST.