After splitting on the road to open the series the Dodge City baseball team would split again with Seward County in the series doubleheader in Dodge City as the Conquistadors grabbed game one 2-1 but fell 7-4 in game two.
The split moves the Conquistadors to 20-7 on the season and 6-2 in KJCCC action.
The Conqs step back outside of KJCCC play next week as they will travel to Alva, Oklahoma on Monday, March 18th for one nine-inning contest against Northwestern Oklahoma State JV and then will take on Johnson County in non-league action on Thursday, March 21st for a doubleheader in Emporia at Emporia State.
Game 1 – Won 2-1 vs Seward County
Just like game one of the series in Liberal the first game of the doubleheader in Dodge City proved to be a pitcher's duel all the way down to the wire as the Conqs would snatch the victory in walk-off fashion. In the bottom of the third, the Conqs would break through with a solo home run by Juan Rivera which ultimately looked like it would be enough for the victory, however, Seward County didn't go down quietly. The Saints of Seward County would work the bases loaded in the top of the seventh and then find a way to scratch one run across the plate to tie the game. In the bottom of the seventh Andrew Detlefsen led the frame off with a single and after a fly ball out Nick Gray would deliver an RBI single to score Detlefsen and lift the Conqs to the 2-1 win.
Three Conqs had multi-hit games including Rivera who was 2-4 with a solo home run and a stolen base. Gray added a 2-3 game with the walk-off RBI single to finish the game and a double, while Nick Mesquita was 2-3 in the contest.
Brian Hallum was strong on the mound tossing 6.2 innings giving up one unearned run on seven hits and two walks while striking out five. Josh Nolte picked up the one-out win coming in to record the final out of the top of the seventh.
Game 2 – Lost 7-4 vs Seward County
It was early and often runs for Seward County in the series finale as the Conqs were fighting from behind early in the contest. The Saints tallied two in the first, one in the second and third innings each, and then two more in the fifth to lead 6-0. In the top of the seventh Seward County added another run to make it 7-0 but the Conqs finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh as Carter Olson belted a solo home run. Down to the final three outs of the contest the Conqs still were fighting working the bases loaded and a double by Rivera produced two runs. Then Gray recorded a sacrifice fly to bring in another run making it 7-4 the Conqs would have the tying run at the plate with Hallum who would hit a ball hard and deep to left field but it would caught to finish the game at 7-4 leading the series split.
Jordan Rodriguez paced the Conqs offense going 3-4 with a run scored, while Olson was 1-2 with two runs scored, an RBI, two walks, and a home run. Rivera, Gray, and Max Towchik each also recorded a hit. Seven different pitchers saw action for the Conqs with Torin Cavanaugh and Caleb Tucker each tossing a scoreless inning in the eighth and ninth.
