Dodge City took care of business at home, sweeping Otero in a doubleheader with a 4-3 walk-off win in game one and a dominant game two 23-7 victory.
The Conquistadors, with the two wins improved to 10-8 on the season and 7-0 at home.
The Conqs open KJCCC play next week, starting at home against Hutchinson on Thursday, March 12th, and then traveling to Hutchinson on Saturday, March 14th.
Game 1 – Won 4-3 vs Otero
The day started strong for the Conqs as starter,
Austen Raines, set Otero down in order with a pair of strikeouts, and the Conqs got a leadoff double by
Hunter Morgan in the bottom of the first, and he came around to score, making it 1-0. In the top of the second, Otero got a walk and a single to open the inning and then belted a three-run home run, giving them a 3-1 lead. The third saw the Conqs get a run back as
Ben Longoria drove in
Jonah Andrade, who had a double in the inning, but the Conqs were unable to score more, leaving the bases loaded. The fifth saw the Conqs draw even on a sacrifice fly by
Angel Vazquez to score Andrade, tying the game at 3-3. After working around a base run in the sixth and seventh innings for the Conqs defense in the bottom of the seventh, the Conqs worked two on before Vazquez delivered the game-winning RBI double to give the Conqs the 4-3 win.
Raines was strong as the starter, going 5.1 innings, giving up three runs on two hits, one walk, and two hit batters, while striking out eight.
Starling Beverding finished the game with the final 1.2 innings facing just four batters to earn the win.
Vazquez was 2-3 with three RBI and a double in the win, while Morgan was 2-3 with a pair of doubles, a run scored, a walk, and a stolen base. Andrade added a 3-3 game with two runs scored and a double, while Longoria finished 2-3 with an RBI.
Game 2 – Won 23-7 vs Otero (7 innings)
The second game of the day started off rough for the Conqs as Otero would bat around in the first inning on their way to scoring six runs. Conqs responded in the bottom of the first with four runs, taking advantage of a hit batter, a walk, and two Otero errors with a hit. In the second, the Conqs plated two more runs to draw even at 6-6, and it remained that way until the bottom of the fourth when a bunt single by Longoria gave the Conqs a 7-6 lead. In the fifth, the Conqs blew the game open, scoring eight runs with a two-RBI double from
Nic Cipolla and a two-run homer by
Preston Harrison in the inning. The Conqs added eight more in the sixth, including a grand slam by
Jordi Guerrero. Otero managed a run in the sixth but went down quietly in the seventh as the Conqs finished the game 23-7 in seven innings.
Morgan had another strong game at the plate, going 2-2 with five runs scored, two walks, and two hit by pitches. Vazquez added a 2-3 game with two runs scored and a walk, while Longoria was 2-4 with three runs scored, six RBI, a walk, and a double.
Will Soto was 2-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored, and Cipolla was 2-4 with a hit by pitch, four RBI, a double, and two runs scored.
On the mound,
Michael Bizier had a strong 2.2 scoreless innings to stabilize the Conqs pitching in the matchup as he gave up just two hits and a walk.
Sam Spencer tossed two scoreless innings and earned the win in relief, while
Aydin Ruiz tossed a scoreless seventh with two strikeouts.
