For the first time since 2010, the Dodge City baseball team has a series win over Hutchinson after picking up two wins over the Blue Dragons at home to wrap up the four-game KJCCC series. Conquistadors took three of four in the series with the split back on Thursday.
The wins move the Conqs to 9-13 on the season and 3-1 in KJCCC as the Conqs claim the series win in the KJCCC series opener for the second straight year. The series win is the first over Hutchinson since 2010 and the doubleheader sweep of the Blue Dragons is also the first since 2010.
Back in action next week for the Conqs as they will travel to Colorado on Tuesday, March 14th for a doubleheader versus Otero and then will take on Garden City for KJCCC action. Conqs will host the Broncbusters on Thursday, March 16th, and then travel to Garden City on Saturday, March 18th.
Game 1 – Won 7-2 vs Hutchinson
An early error in game one of the day would lead to Hutchinson taking an early 1-0 lead but it would be their only lead of the day as the Conqs would answer in the bottom of the second working a pair of bases runners on via walks and scoring on an error to tie the game. In the bottom of the third, the Conqs took the lead plating three runs with an RBI double by
Carson Wright highlighting the inning. The lead grew in the fourth as the Conqs scored two more and then an RBI double by
Nick Mesquita in the sixth added another for the Conqs to secure a lead of 7-2. The Conqs shut the door in the top of the seventh to secure the win.
On the mound,
Shea Walker picked up the win by tossing five strong innings giving up just two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks, with five strikeouts.
Josh Nolte and
Ashton Jenkins each tossed a scoreless inning of relief.
At the plate multi-hit games by Mesquita and
Cooper Schneider paced the Conqs. Mesquista was 2-4 with a run scored, two RBI, a double, and reached on an error, while Schneider was 2-3 with an RBI, run scored, and stolen base.
Jordan Rodriguez added a 1-1 performance with a run scored and a walk.
Game 2 – Won 1-0 vs Hutchinson
The series finale would prove to be a pitching duel as both starts went deep into the contest helping their teams keep the contest tight. The Conqs would have a pair of early scoring opportunities but come up short, while in the second and fourth Hutchinson stranded two in early scoring opportunities for themselves. In the bottom of the seventh, the Conqs finally broke through as
Cooper Tomkinson and
Ethan Hewell had back-to-back singles and then a walk by Rodriguez loaded the bases then with two outs Schneider was hit by a pitch to bring in a run and that would prove to be enough as the Conqs secured the 1-0 win in the series finale versus Hutchinson.
Michael DeBattista was stellar on the mound tossing seven scoreless innings and giving up just one hit and two walks while striking out 10 to earn the win.
Zade Cisneros earned the save in two innings of relief by not surrendering a run giving up just one hit and a hit batter with three strikeouts.
Offensively, Wright and Hewell both were 2-4, while
Zandt Payne had a double and Tomkinson had a hit and run scored.
