The Sudan Hornets’ varsity baseball team took down San Jacinto Christian Academy on Friday, 3-2, on a walk-off hit by Caleb Groetken, in the Lamb County Classic.
With the win, the Hornets improve to 5-4 overall on the year.
In the top of the first inning, Jon Cruz was hit by a pitch to give the Patriots a base runner, and he took second on a passed ball, before Caleb Groetken got Braxten Leach to strike out swinging for out number one. Cruz stole third on a passed ball and tried to steal home on another passed ball, but was tagged out at the plate by Groetken for out number two.
Sy Potter singled on an error by Marcello King at second base and he took second on a passed ball, but Ben Mitchell would pop up to Groetken on the first-base side to retire the side.
In the home-half of the first, Jett Randolph was on the bump for the Patriots, as he got Groetken to ground out to Cruz at shortstop for out number one. Jaibryn Ornelas struck out looking, but Cal Carter drew a walk to give the Hornets their first base-runner of the game. However, Dylan Provence would hit a one-hopper to Matthew Richard at second base to end the inning.
Groetken made quick work of the Patriots in the second inning, as he got the lead-off man, Randolph to strike out swinging for out number one. Will Sternenberg grounded out to Julian Salas at first base for out number two and Jacoby Leach chopped out to Groetken, who got the out at first to retire the side.
Salas got the bottom half of the second going with a double to leftcenter field and King followed it up with a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by Randolph, who got the out at first, as Salas advanced to third on the play with one out. The threat would not come to pass for the Hornets, as Kincaid Boehning and Eric Rosa both struck out swinging to end the inning.
The pitcher’s dual continued into the third inning, as Groetken picked up two more strikeouts, getting Josh Miskimen and Richard both to go down swinging. Cruz was hit by a pitch and made it to second before Braxten Leach went down looking to retire the side.
The Hornet offensive continued to struggle to string something together in the bottom of the third, as Kooper Edwards struck out looking and Groetken lined out to left field for out number two. Ornelas tripled down the first-base line, but Carter would fly out to center field to end the inning.
Groetken got Potter to go down swinging to begin the fourth inning, but Mitchell hit a grounder to Ornelas at third, and a bad throw to first landed Mitchell on second with a double. He took third on a passed ball and Randolph drew a walk to put runners on the corners for the Patriots. Sternenberg hit a grounder to Ornelas at third, who tagged out Mitchell and ran down the runner between second and third for a double play to retire the side.
Provence was hit by a pitch to give the Hornets a base runner in the bottom half of the fourth. Salas hit a grounder to Cruz at shortstop, who tried to turn two, but Provence was safe at second, however Salas was out at first for the first out of the inning. King drew a walk, but Boehning struck out looking for out number two.
Rosa drew a walk to load the bases, but the Hornets would leave the m juiced, as Edwards struck out swinging to end the inning.
Jacoby Leach drew a lead-off walk for the Hornets in the fifth inning, but he would get picked off at first by Groetken to clear the bases. Miskimen, Richard and Cruz drew walks to load the bases for the Patriots, but Braxten Leach hit a shot to Ornelas at third, who stepped on the bag and fired to first for the double play to retire the side.
The Hornets would break through in the bottom half of the fifth, as Groetken singled through the right side and Ornelas moved him over to second with a sacrifice bunt. The Patriots intentionally walked Carter and Provence hit a short fly ball to Richard at second base for out number two. With two outs, Salas ripped a two-RBI doubled past third base to put Sudan in front, 2-0.
King drew a walk, as Mitchell relieved Randolph on the mound for the Patriots. Mitchell would get Boehning to pop up to him on the first-base side to end the inning.
Ornelas relieved Groetken on the mound for the Hornets to begin the sixth inning, but Potter walked and Mitchell and Randolph singled to load the bases, before Sternenberg drew a walk to cut the lead in half, 2-1. Ornelas was relieved by Carter on the mound, as he got Jacoby Leach and to strike out looking for out number one.
The next batter struck out looking for out number two, but Richard drew an RBI-walk to tie the game, 2-2. Cruz hit a shot back at Carter on the mound, who flipped it to first to retire the side.
In the home-half of the sixth, Eric Rosa struck out looking for out number one and Edwards chopped out to Richard at second base for out number two. Groetken would single through the right side with a hard ground ball that would get by the right fielder and roll all the way to the fence allowing Groetken to round the bases and score to walk it off for the Hornets, 3-2.
Groetken started on the mound and went five innings for the Hornets giving up five walks, while earning six strikeouts. Ornelas gave up two hits, two walks and two runs, while Carter pitched one inning, giving up one walk, while striking out two batters.