Saints rally, but fall to Lamar, 13-12

LIBERAL, Kan. — The Seward County Community College baseball team fell to Lamar Community College, 13-12, in a non-conference game on Tuesday at Brent Gould. The Saints dropped to 14-14 overall.

Seward fell behind early before making it close in the final three innings. Lamar built a 13-4 lead through six and a half innings. The Saints began to battle back with four runs in the bottom of the seventh and three more in the eighth to cut the deficit to 13-11.

Seward had a chance to complete the comeback in the ninth, but fell short. With one out, Joe Kuhn and AJ Folds walked. After pinch-hitter Jordan Kennedy struck out, Wyatt Grant singled in Kuhn to cut the deficit to 13-12. The Saints could get no closer as Kason Haggard grounded out to end the game.

Haggard went 4-for-6 with two RBI and Cayde Ward and Grant each had three hits and drove in three runs for the Saints.

Cory Didier (1-2) took the loss in his second start of the season, allowing six runs, four earned, on six hits, striking out two and walking four over three innings. Rene Ramirez relieved Didier and was hit hard, giving up seven runs on eight hits, striking out five, walking two and allowing three homers over 3 2/3 innings. Steven Craddock finished the game with two hits and one strikeout over 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Saints host the Barton Cougars to start a four-game conference set at 1 p.m. on Thursday at Brent Gould Field. The teams will play at Barton on Saturday.