Back at it quickly, the Dodge City baseball team traveled to Liberal on Friday to wrap up the series with Seward County. The day played out like Thursday in Dodge City, with one game heavily in favor of Seward County, and the Conquistadors coming back for a tight win.
The Conqs started the day with a tough 16-2 loss but bounced back in the series finale, grabbing a 7-6 win to split the series overall against the Saints. With the 1-1 day, the Conqs are now 16-25 overall and 5-15 in KJCCC action.
Three conference series remain on the season for the Conqs, as they will square off with Pratt next week. The series will start in Pratt on Thursday, April 16th, and then continue at home on Saturday, April 18th.
Game 1 – Lost 16-2 at Seward County (5 innings)
It was early and often scoring by Seward County that put the Conqs behind early on the day as the Saints plated three runs in both the first and second innings each to lead 6-0. The Conqs broke through in the top of the third as
Ben Longoria drove in two runs on a single after a single and double by
Hunter Morgan and
Angel Vazquez. Seward County countered in the bottom of the third, scoring seven runs to lead 13-2 after three innings. Conqs were unable to get on the board again over the next two half innings while Seward County added three in the fourth, leading to a 16-2 five-inning defeat for the Conqs.
The Conqs were out-hit in the contest 17-7 as they were led by two-hit games from Morgan and Vazquez. Morgan was 2-3 with a run scored, while Vazquez was 2-3 with a run scored, a double, and a stolen base.
Game 2 – Won 7-6 at Seward County
Throughout the series, the Conqs found themselves behind early, and the series finale was not different as Seward County scored a run in the first inning. The Conqs pulled even quickly with a run in the top of the second as
Will Soto got on base with a double and later scored in the inning on a balk. Once again, the Seward County answered the Conqs' scoring with scoring of their own as they tallied three runs and then added another in the fifth to lead 5-1.
In the sixth, the Conqs opened the inning with three straight singles to load the bases, and then
Jonah Andrade drove in a run with a single, and
Bynum Martinez pulled the Conqs to within one with a two RBI single. The seventh saw success at the plate again for the Conqs, scoring three more runs as a
Cameron Stukenborg RBI single tied the game at 5-5, and then Martinez delivered a two RBI single to lift the Conqs to their first lead of the day at 7-5. Conqs carried that lead into the bottom of the ninth and while Seward County tallied a run in the frame, the Conqs ultimately closed the door on the contest to earn the 7-6 victory.
Twelve hits paced the Conqs in the win as Longoria was 3-5 with two runs scored and a double, while
Will Soto went 3-4 with three runs scored and a double. Martinez added a 2-4 game with four RBI and a double.
Cameron Stukenborg added a 2-5 game with two runs scored and an RBI.
In relief,
Aydin Ruiz picked up his second win of the series, tossing 1.2 innings of scoreless action, giving up just two hits and striking out two.
Dariel Luna capped the game, throwing the final three innings for the save, giving up just one run on two hits and three walks.
Lane French got a no-decision as the starter but tossed an effective 4.1 innings, giving up five runs on five hits and no walks, while striking out four.
