Saints Swept in Day One of Kirkwood Series

Liberal, Kansas – After a perfect 4-0 start in opening week over Redlands to kick off the 2024 season, the Seward County Saints baseball team hit a small speedbump this week in day one of a four-game series against Kirkwood as the Eagles took down SCCC 7-5 in game one and 11-4 in game two to sweep the Saints in the doubleheader.

Cameron Cartwright opened the first home game of 2024 with a big hit that landed beyond the fences for a two-run home run that gave Seward County an early 2-0 lead to begin game one which Kirkwood responded with a homer of their own in the top of the third to trim the lead down to 2-1. The Eagles again knocked one out of the park for another two scores to take the lead 3-2 while striking out the Saints in the bottom of the inning to remain in front on Seward County's home field. Another three runs by Kirkwood in the fifth increase their lead out to four until a double towards center by Kaden Juarez allowed two more runners to make their way home and cut it back to two as the Eagles led 6-4 entering the final inning where both sides exchanged one final score before the Saints fell in their home opener 7-5 to start the day.

The reigning KJCCC West Player of the Week Trenton Rowan opened game two the same way Cartwright opened game one with a high-power swing to knock the ball out beyond the wall to put the Saints in front 3-1 over Kirkwood. The Eagles quickly responded in the top of the second with three more scores to retake the lead 4-3 and an inside the park home run in the third grew the lead out to 10-3 over Seward County. Despite managing to score one final run in the fourth to close the gap to 10-4, the Saints were unable to find the hits they needed and eventually fell to Kirkwood in game two 11-4.

Seward County will need to forget the first two games as they enter the final two games of the four-game series tomorrow against the Eagles with game one starting at 1:00 PM before hitting the road next week to take on Odessa and Midland.