Baseball Upsets Central Methodist; Falls to Roosevelt

FAYETTE, MO. - The Hastings College baseball team saw a wave of competition on Saturday, but flew to the occasion in a split of doubleheader action. In a very chilly morning matinee against the Roosevelt Lakers, the Broncos would fall narrowly, 6-5, in a very competitive matchup, before edging out the home No. 22 Central Methodist Eagles, 8-6.

After an eventful pre-game, the Broncos went up against the Lakers, with the Lakers getting things going in the first inning, as starting pitcher Hayden Zaffino would be called on a two-out balk that scored a run for the Lakers.

Zaffino would answer well, getting the next six batters out before the Lakers got a two-out rally going in the third that resulted in two more runs and a 3-0 lead.

In the fifth inning, the Lakers would benefit from a miscommunication by the Broncos on a bunt, resulting in a fourth run. The Broncos were able to answer back in the bottom of the fifth, with Alliskair Descartes plating Matt Lucero and courtesy runner Ben Richter, in place of Tyler Kissler, to cut the Lakers lead in half, 4-2.

The Lakers would strike once more, scoring two in the 7th, but the Broncos had a bit of two-out magic for themselves, as Eli Merritt led off the inning with a double, scoring later on a Kissler single. After a Descartes double, and Tristan Martinez wearing a pitch, the Broncos would load the bases. Jaden Stone got two in on a single, and advanced to second on an error before the Broncos would finally record the final out of the game.

The Broncos offense would come out with 10 hits, with Merritt, Dylan Otto, Kissler, and Descartes all going 2-for-3.

Jaden Jurgensmier and Esteban Acevedo came in relief for Zaffino for the sixth and seventh.

After coming 90 feet away from tying things up against Roosevelt, the Broncos had some time to reflect on the game, and plan for their game against the home team, Central Methodist. 

CMU would also jump out to a 4-0 lead with the Eagles getting back-to-back-to-back home runs in the third inning.

The bats once again would come alive in the fifth as Matt Lucero reached on a hit by pitch followed by a walk to Kissler to put runners on first and second. Descartes then singled up the middle to plate Lucero to get the Broncos on the board. 

Following a Tristan Martinez single to load the bases, Stone legged out a fielder's choice to avoid the double play that allowed Kissler to score to make it 4-2.

In the sixth, Merritt picked up a RBI double to left that Tyler Welsh scored on and he later scored on a Kissler single to tie the game 4-4.

The game remained tied into the seventh where Merritt picked up another RBI double to give Hastings the 5-4 lead. Now with runners on second and third with two outs, Otto deposited a 1-1 fast ball over the left field fence for a 3-run home run and the 8-4 lead.

From there Cole Peterson did give up a two run home run but would get Tanner Sears to fly out to center to end the game as HC picked up the 8-6 victory.

Merritt had another big game at the plate going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Martinez finished game two 2-for-4 while Otto went 1-for-4 with the big home run and three RBIs.

Hastings is now 3-3 on the year and will be back in action Sunday Feb. 18 and will play Roosevelt at 10:00 am followed by another one with Central Methodist at 4:00 pm down in Fayette, MO.