Broncos Wrap Up Salina Trip With Loss to #12 Kansas Wesleyan

(Salina, KS) – Coming off their first win of the season yesterday, Hastings dropped their first game against Clarke, 15-3. In the second second game, Kansas Wesleyan took an early lead and won, 6-3.

In the first game against Clarke, the Pride took control early. They scored two runs in each of the first two innings and then scored seven in the third to take a commanding 11-0 lead.

Clarke scored two runs in the first by walking with one out and followed that with three straight singles. The second inning featured a walk and stolen base, then an RBI single. After a couple of outs, they scored another run on an error.

In the seven-run third for Clarke, they began with three walks in the first four batters and totaled five walks and three hits in the inning.

Hastings scored three runs in the bottom of the third. Senior Alliskair Descartes singled to begin the inning. With two outs, freshman Jordin Albertson and senior Mason Masur walked. Senior Elijah Merritt cleared the bases with a three-run double to make it 11-3.

Clarke added a run in the fourth and fifth innings, then later scored two more in the seventh to go up 15-3, which would hold to be the final score.

Senior Caleb Duinink was 2-3 at the plate and Merritt led the team with his three RBIs on the third-inning double against Clarke.

In the second game against Kansas Wesleyan, the Coyotes scored first that kick-started by a leadoff double in the first that took third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI-groundout to take a 1-0 lead.

Hastings tied it up at one in the fourth inning as junior Tristan Martinez led off the inning with a single to start it off. Sophomore Jared Delgado put two on with one out for junior Jace Valdez. A ground ball by Valdez was fielded by the third baseman, who threw out the Broncos at second base, but the second baseman misfired on his throw to first, allowing Martinez to score to tie it at one.

The Coyotes responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI-single, scoring the runner that began the inning with a leadoff walk. They added four runs with two outs in the sixth inning, including a three-run home run, to go up 6-1 going to the seventh.

The Broncos made the seventh inning interesting by getting two runners on with two out. Albertson came in to pinch-hit and doubled to center field to score both runs, but Kansas Wesleyan got Martinez to ground out to end the game.

Junior Jaden Stone had a good game offensively, going 3-3 with a run scored, while Albertson was 1-1 with his two-run double. Senior James Velasquez pitched well as the starter, allowing just the two runs on two hits and one walk with four strikeouts in four innings.

Up next, Hastings will play next on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at #22 Tabor in Hillsboro, KS for a double-header beginning at 1pm.