Saints take two from Trojans, 5-4 and 17-4

LIBERAL, Kan. – The Seward County Community College baseball team used timely hitting and strong pitching to complete a sweep of Colby Community College, 5-4 and 17-4, on Saturday at Brent Gould Field. The Saints took three of four from the Trojans this weekend to improve to 3-1 in the Jayhawk West and 10-8 overall.

Seward will play at Frank Phillips on Tuesday.

GAME ONE

Cayde Ward's bases loaded hit in the bottom of the seventh inning gave Seward a walk-off win in the opener.

After surrendering the lead and letting the Trojans tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the seventh inning, the Saints came back in the bottom of the frame when with one out Cruz Shope was hit by a pitch, Braxton Allen reached first on an error and Benny Ayala was intentionally walked to load the bases. Ward came up and drove the first pitch into left center for a hit and Shope scored the game winner.

Shope went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, Ayala also went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Braxton Allen added a two-run homer for the Saints, who had eight hits in the game.

Cole Evans started for Seward, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out six and walking three over 5 2/3 innings in a no decision. Cory Didier (1-0) earned the win, giving up one run on one hit, struck out two and walked none over 1 1/3 innings.

Seward jumped out to a 4-1 lead after five innings, but Colby drew within 4-3 after six innings and tied it on a homer off Didier in the seventh.

GAME TWO

The Saints sent 15 batters to the plate in the first inning and scored 10 runs to cruise to a seven-inning, run-rule victory in the second game.

Seward used timely hitting and took advantage of a Colby error and six walks to put up double-digit runs. With two outs and the bases loaded thanks to an error and two walks, Owen Martin singled in the first run, Jose Caraballo walked for another run and Wyatt Grant singled in a pair of runs to give the Saints a 4-0 lead. After another walk, Cruz Shope had an RBI single, Braxton Allen drove in a run with a walk and Benny Ayala belted a three–run double. Cayde Ward capped the 10-run inning for Seward with a run-scoring single.

Allen went 3-for-4 with four RBI and Ward and Shope each had two hits for the Saints, who had every starter with at least a hit.

Ryan Giberson (2-2) picked up the win, allowing three runs on four hits, striking out five and walking three. Braden Gould finished the contest with an unearned run, two hits and three strikeouts in an inning of work.

Seward scored three more runs in the second and added four more in the fifth to open a 17-2 lead. Colby had single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to complete the scoring.