MCC Baseball splits one-run games at Lamar

The McCook Community College baseball team split a doubleheader Friday on the road losing the first game 3-2 and winning the second game 5-4.

MCC pitchers allowed just two earned runs and nine hits over 16 innings Friday, but the Indian defense committed seven errors leading to five unearned runs. In the series opener, MCC pitchers allowed just two hits in Game 1, but Lamar scored three unearned runs and neither team scored in the fourth through seventh innings.

“Our path to winning is good pitching, good defense and timely hitting. We did that Game 2 and won, didn’t do it in Game 1 and got beat,” said MCC Coach Jon Olsen. “I thought we were very flat when we showed up to the field and it carried for all seven innings in that first game.” 

Freshman Carter Smith (Ottawa, Canada) hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning of Game 2 and MCC gained the split.

“Carter Smith had a huge swing to put us up by three runs late and we held on,” said Olsen. “It was good to get Game 2, although the ninth inning got a little close.”

In that second game, after two quick outs in the bottom of the ninth and trailing by two runs, Lamar rallied and left the tying run at third base.

“We had to scratch for everything today,” said Olsen. “It was a tough day to play and we needed Game 2, especially after how we played in Game 1. We pitched really good all day though.”

MCC and Lamar are now both 11-11 in Region IX play. Lamar is 22-27 overall and MCC is 24-24. The two teams play two more games Saturday.

“We only have three conference doubleheaders left and we have some work to do,” said Olsen. “We need a good day tomorrow.”

For all the latest information about MCC baseball including schedule and schedule changes, livestream links, statistics, rosters, photos and more please visit the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com 

GAME 1 – Lamar 3, McCook 2: MCC took a 1-0 lead in the first on a solo home run by freshman Carter Smith (Ottawa, Canada) but

Lamar tied it in the bottom of the inning on an unearned run then scored what proved to be the game-winning runs in the second inning on two more unearned runs.

Freshman Landon McKillip (Lamoni, Iowa) reached first on an error to lead off the MCC third. Sophomore Nathan Hutchison (Riverton, Wyo.) put down a bunt-single and McKillip went to third on the throw. Smith hit into a doubleplay to score McKillip with the final run of the game.

The Indians were held scoreless for the final four innings and had five hits in the game with two by Smith.

Sophomore Myles Chabi (Sydney, Australia) took the loss despite not allowing an earned run. In three innings, he allowed one hit, two walks and he struck out six. Freshman Tait Anderson (Auckland, New Zealand) pitched the final three innings allowing one hit, no walks and he struck out two.

“This game was not who we were at all, Myles and Tait were really good we did not play good outside of that,” said Olsen.

GAME 2 – McCook 5, Lamar 4: Nathan Hutchison walked to lead off the game, went to third on a single by sophomore Cory Wouters (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) and scored on an RBI-single from freshman Dalton Berg (Frederick, Colo.). Freshman Mason Regan (Centennial, Colo.) hit a one-out solo home run in the second as MCC took a 2-0 lead.

The Runnin’ Lopes got on the scoreboard with a leadoff home run in the second.

Berg tripled to lead off the MCC sixth and scored on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Chase Williams (Brampton, Ontario) to put the Indians ahead 3-1 but Lamar got that run back with a two-out MCC error in the bottom of the inning to make it a 3-2 game.

Regan walked to lead off the MCC seventh and with two outs Carter Smith lined a two-run home run to left field to give the Indians a 5-2 lead.

Freshman Landon Molloy (Parker, Colo.) finished off the Lopes in the seventh and left the game allowing three hits, one earned run and one walk with six strikeouts.

“Molloy gave us a great start,” said Olsen. “He was really good and we needed it.”

Sophomore reliever Jean Duran (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) gave up a two-run single in the eighth as Lamar closed the deficit to 5-3. Duran allowed two singles and struck out a hitter in his inning of work.

Tait Anderson came on for the ninth inning and was helped out by his defense twice and hurt once.

“We made two great defensive plays and then didn’t make an easy one,” said Olsen.

Regan made the first out on snappy defense at second base and Berg took a fly in right field for the second out. Then came a Lamar single, an MCC error and a Lamar double to make it a 5-4 MCC lead with the tying run at third base.

“Then Dalton Berg made an amazing catch to end it,” said Olsen.

Anderson picked up the save allowing two hits and an unearned run in the ninth.

The Indians committed five errors in the game and outhit Lamar 7-6, Berg led the way with two hits.