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Highland Baseball Opens Season in Oklahoma

published February 19, 2014

Highland Baseball Opens Season in Oklahoma

The Highland Community College baseball team traveled to Poteau, Oklahoma over the weekend, splitting a four game series against Carl Albert State College.

In game one, the Scotties scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning on RBIs by Justin Paul (Omaha, NE), Jaylen Jenkins (Topeka), and Dakota Woods (Clarinda, IA) to take a 5-3 lead.  The lead did not last long, however, as Carl Albert took advantage of a hit batter and an error to score four runs in the bottom of the inning on a two-run single, and a two out two-run home run to regain the lead at 7-5.  After a scoreless eighth inning, Highland had a big opportunity to take the lead in the top of the ninth inning, as Carl Albert’s pitchers walked four batters, scoring one run for the Scotties with one out and the bases loaded, but Highland was unable to drive home any more runs, leaving Carl Albert with a 7-6 win.  Tyler Lane (Papillion, NE), Sam Brooks (Bay City, MI), and Kasey Clark (St. Marys) had two hits each for Highland.  Evan Smith (Wichita) hit a solo home run in the third inning for the Scotties first run.

In game two, Highland scored three runs in each of the first and third innings, Justin Paul (Omaha, NE) pitched a complete game, and the Scotties defeated Carl Albert 6-2.  Paul allowed only two runs in the second inning, and only two base runners over the last five innings.  Evan Smith’s (Wichita) two run double in the first inning gave Highland an early lead, and he later scored on a wild pitch, making the score 3-0.  After Carl Albert closed the gap to 3-2 in the bottom of the second inning, Kasey Clark (St. Marys) hit a bases loaded double, clearing the bases, and extended the lead to 6-2.  Tyler Lane (Papillion, NE) had two hits to lead Highland hitters.

In game three, Carl Albert scored two runs in the second inning, three runs in the fourth inning, and then added two unearned runs in the sixth inning to take a 7-1 lead over Highland. They then held on for a 7-4 victory as the Scotties tried to rally in the late innings.  Justin Paul’s (Omaha, NE) RBI single in the seventh inning made the score 7-2, and back-to-back RBI doubles by Evan Smith (Wichita) and Kasey Clark (St. Marys) made the score 7-4 in the top of the ninth inning, but the Scotties could get no closer, leaving two runners on base to end the game.  Highland stranded eleven runners on base during the game.  Tyler Lane (Papillion, NE) had three hits to lead Highland hitters.  Sam Brooks (Bay City, MI) and Evan Smith (Wichita) had two hits each.  Jarrod Byous (St. Joseph, MO) pitched five solid innings in relief, allowing two unearned runs, giving up just two hits while striking out four batters.

In game four, the final game of the series, Skylar Barnes (Basehor) pitched five shut-out innings, and the Scotties rallied for four runs on seven hits in the top of the ninth inning to erase a 5-4 deficit in taking a 8-5 win.  Highland led 4-0 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, but Scottie miscues opened the door for Carl Albert to score one run in the sixth inning and two runs in the seventh inning to narrow the gap to 4-3.  Then with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Carl Albert got back-to-back RBI singles to take a 5-4 lead, setting the stage for the Scotties’ rally in the top of the ninth, as Sam Brooks (Bay City, MI) and Jeremy Wagner (Tonganoxie) had back-to-back two-run singles to give Highland the 8-5 lead and the win.  Five Scottie hitters had two hits in the game.  Brett Norris (Atchison) picked up the win in relief, pitching two and two third innings in relief.

The Scotties travel to Beatrice, NE, to take on Southeast Nebraska on February 20 and then compete in the Cloud County Tournament on February 23 and 24 before returning home to host North Central Missouri on February 25 with a 1:00 first pitch.

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