Looking to bounce from the series opening action on Thursday against Seward County the Dodge City baseball team hit the road to travel to Liberal on Sunday and would split a doubleheader against the Saints. The Conquistadors dropped game one 17-7 in five innings but bounced back to come from behind to win the series finale 15-12.
The Conqs are now 25-23 on the season and 15-9 in KJCCC action. Conqs have matched their KJCCC win total from last year with eight conference games remaining this season and currently are tied for third in the KJCCC West standings.
Up next the Conqs will continue KJCCC play with another big series coming up as they will take on Butler with the series starting in El Dorado on Thursday, April 27th, and then will transition to Dodge City on Saturday, April 29th which will be sophomore day for the Conqs.
Game 1 – Lost 17-7 at Seward County (5 innings)
It was a rough start to the day for the Conqs as Seward in the bottom of the first would belt a pair of home runs to score three runs and take the early advantage and force the Conqs to the bullpen early, also. Conqs would have an answer in the top of the second tying the game up on three runs as Cooper Schneider, Zandt Payne, and Donnie Rhyne each recorded RBI singles in the inning. In the top of the fourth Andrew Detlefsen tattooed his tenth home run of the season, this one being a solo shot and the Conqs led 4-3. That lead was unfortunately short-lived for the Conqs as Seward would bust the game open with an outpouring of runs in the bottom of the third scoring 13. The top of the fourth would see the Conqs get on the board again behind a Carter Olson three-run home run, but Seward added another in the fourth and after the Conqs were held scoreless in the fifth the game ended via run rule at 17-7.
The Conqs would be outhit by the Saints 17-7 in the loss. Olson and Schneider led the Conqs offense each with two hits in the game. A 2-3 performance with three RBI, a run scored, and a home run was put together by Olson, while Schneider was 2-2 with a walk, two runs scored, and an RBI. Detlefsen added a 1-3 game with a run scored, RBI, walk, and home run.
Game 2 – Won 15-12 at Seward County
Just like the other three games in the series, it was Seward jumping on top early as the Saints would tally three runs in the bottom of the first. Conqs responded in the top of the second as Brian Hallum had the start of his strong performance belting a two-run home run to make it 3-2. The bottom of the second however would see Seward find two more runs and then score another in the third to lead 6-2 after three innings. In the fifth Seward added another run but in the top of the sixth, the offense came alive plating four runs highlighted by an RBI double by Detlefsen and two RBI double by Ethan Hewell. Seward again had another answer scoring two in the bottom of the sixth. The next nine runs would be scored by the Conqs over the final three innings of the game starting with an RBI single by Detlefsen in the seventh. In the eighth both Olson and Schneider notched RBI singles and Hallum smacked a three-run home run to highlight a six-run eighth inning giving the Conqs the lead. In the top of the ninth, an RBI single by Olson added another run for the Conqs as they led 15-9 entering the bottom of the ninth. Seward did not go away quietly scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth but the Conqs finished the game out to grab the 15-12 win.
Five Conqs had a multi-hit game in the win led by a trio who each had three hits. Hallum finished 3-5 with five RBI, three runs scored, two home runs, and a double, while Detlefsen added a 3-6 game with two RBI, two runs scored, and a double. Olson chipped in a 3-5 game with a walk, four RBI, and two runs scored. Hewell added a 2-5 game with a triple, a double, two runs scored, and two RBI, while Schneider finished 2-5 with three runs scored, an RBI, and a walk.
Hallum finished the game tossing the final three innings to earn the win for the Conqs, while Justus Revill had strong four innings of work in the contest in relief.
