The Sudan Hornets’ varsity baseball team dropped a heartbreaker in game one of their Class 2A Area play- off series with Clarendon, 11- 10 in nine innings on Thursday in Floydada.
With the loss, the Hornets fall to 19- 8 overall on the season.
The Hornets were kept quiet in the top of the first inning, and in the home-half of the inning, Jesus Salas got Easton Frausto to pop up to Caleb Groetken at first base for out number one. Jared Musick drew a walk and took second on a pitch, before Harrison Howard knocked an RBI-single over Cal Carter at shortstop to put the Broncos in front, 1- 0.
Howard took second on a pitch, before Levi Gates doubled to right field. Jesus Salas would get Mason Allred to strike out swinging for out number two, but Bryce Williams followed it up with a two-RBI single up the middle to make the score, 3- 0. Williams took second on a high throw to the plate by Trent Wilson. Grant Haynes would ground out to Jesus Salas on the mound to end the inning.
The Hornet were kept scoreless again in the top of the second inning, and in the bottom half of the inning, Mason Sims would fly out to Jaibryn Ornelas in left field for out number one and Jesus Salas got Shane Hagood to strike out looking for out number two. Frausto singled to right field and he took second on a pitch, before Musick ripped an RBI- double to left field, stretching their lead to, 4- 0.
Musick would swipe third and score on a throw down into left field by Julian Salas, extending the lead to, 5- 0, before Howard struck out looking to end the inning.
The Hornets were kept off the board through the next two innings, as their offensive struggles continued and in the bottom of the fourth, Sims connected with a check swing to Jesus Salas on the mound, but a a bad throw to first gave the Broncos a base runner. Sims took second on a pitch, before Hagood struck out swinging for out number one.
Frausto hit a sacrifice grounder to Marcello King at second base, who got the out at first as Sims advanced to third with two outs. Musick hit a chopper to Derek Rosa on third and reached on an error, as the Broncos pushed their lead to, 6- 0. Musick took second on a pitch and third on a ball away from Julian Salas behind the plate, before Howard drew a walk putting runners on the corners for Clarendon.
Howard took second on a pitch, before Gates hit a shot deep in the hole to Carter at shortstop, but his throw to first was off the mark, making the score, 7- 0, however Groetken would throw home, as Julian Salas slapped a tag on Howard to end the inning.
The Hornets would find some offense in the top of the fifth as Julian Salas was hit by a pitch to lead things off, bringing on Kasen Kauffman to run for the catcher. King singled on an error by Frausto at shortstop, but Derek Rosa struck out swinging for out number one. The runners advanced to second and third on a bad pick-off to second by the catcher, Musick, but Kooper Edwards struck out swinging for out number two.
Kauffman scored on a passed ball to get the Hornets on the board, as King moved over to third with the score, 71. Ornelas drew a walk and Wilson followed it up with an RBI-chopper past Gates at first base. A late cover by the pitcher Howard caused a throw into the dugout, making the score, 7-2, with runners on second and third. Ornelas scored on a passed ball, as Wilson advanced to third with the score cut to, 7- 3.
Carter kept the rally going with an RBI- single that fell between Howard and Gates on the right side, trimming the lead to, 7- 4. Groetken drew a walk, but Jesus struck out swinging to retire the side.
Ornelas relieved Jesus Salas on the mound to begin the bottom of the fifth inning, as Allred led off for the Broncos with a double that was said to have been touched in fair territory by Julian Salas on the first- base line. Ornelas would bounce back, as he got Williams to strike out looking and Haynes to strike out swinging for two outs.
Sims drew a walk and Allred advanced to third on the passed ball. Sims took second on a pitch, before Hagood hit a two-RBI single on a pop up that was dropped by King at second base, making the score, 9-4. Frausto drew a walk, but Musick grounded out to King at second base to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth, Frausto relieved Howard on the mound for the Broncos, as Julian Salas singled through the left side, bringing Kauffman on as the courtesy runner for the catcher. King and Derek Rosa drew back-toback walks to load the bases and Edwards drove in a run with a walk to cut the lead to, 9-5.
Ornelas had a high pop up fall on the third- base line for an RBI to make the score, 9-6, and Wilson followed it up with an RBI-chopper to Gates away from the bag and Frausto was late covering, making the score, 9- 7. Carter hit a shot to Haynes at second base, who rolled the double play, as Ornelas advanced to third with two outs and the score cut to, 9-8.
Groetken knocked an RBIsingle over Howard at shortstop to tie the game, 9- 9, before Jesus Salas struck out swinging to retire the side.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Hornets got a big stop, keeping the Broncos off the board, going into the seventh inning. The game remained tied, forcing extra innings.
Ornelas struck out looking to begin the eighth inning, but Wilson singled to right- center field and Carter hit a sacrifice to Gates at first, who got the out as Wilson advanced to third on the play. Groetken singled to Haynes at second base, as the throw to first was bobbled by Gates. Wilson scored on the play to put the Hornets in front, 10-9.
Jesus Salas singled through the left side, but Julian Salas hit into a fileder’s choice to Allred at third base, who stepped on the bag to retire the side.
Carter relieved Ornelas on the mound for the Hornets to begin the home- half of the eighth, as Musick ripped a shot to left fielf, ending up with a triple as Ornelas went for the do- or- die play. Howard popped up to Julian Salas behind the plate for out number one and Gates hit a chopper to Cater on the mound, who held the runner at third before getting the out at first for out number two.
Allred singled on an error by Derek Rosa at third to tie the game, 10- 10, and Williams hit a short liner to second that died in front of King, putting runners on first and second for the Broncos. Haynes drew a walk to load the bases, but Sims grounded out to Jesus Salas at shortstop, taking the game to the ninth inning.
Sudan was kept quiet in the top of the ninth, and in the bottom half of the inning, Carter got Hagood to strike out swinging for out number one. Frausto hit a line drive down the third- base line that got under the fence for a ground rule double, but Musick lined out to Wilson in center field for out number two.
Frausto took third on a pitch, before Howard ripped a shot down the third- base line to walk it off for the Broncos as they took game one, 11- 10.
Jesus Salas started on the mound for the Hornets pitching four innings, while giving up six hits, three walks and seven runs, four earned, while earning five strike outs. Ornelas came on in relief and pitched three innings, giving up three hits, two walks and two runs, none earned, while earning two punch outs and Carter pitched 1.2 innings, giving up four hits, one walk and two runs, one earned, while earning one strike out.