The Sudan Hornets won their tournament- opener over Muleshoe JV, 20-8, on Thursday at the Shorty Barlow Springlake-Earth Baseball Classic.
Marcello King trippled on an error by the Muleshoe right fielder to lead off the top of the first inning for Sudan, but Trent Wilson chopped out to Edwin Mejia on the mound for out number one. Caleb Groetken singled up the middle to drive in a run for the Hornets and he took second and third on pitches, before Julian Salas drove him in with an RBI-single up the middle to make the score, 2-0.
Jesus Salas sent an RBI-double over the head of the right fielder to extend their lead to, 3-0, but Derek Rosa hit a sacrifice grounder to shortstop, who got the out at first, as Jesus Salas moved to third on the play with two outs. Jesus Salas scored on a past ball to push their lead to, 4-0, and Sal Juarez drew a walk to put a runner on for Sudan. Jason Bohler would strike out swinging to retire the side.
After giving up a lead-off walk in the bottom half of the inning, Wilson and the Hornet defense recovered to keep the Mules off the board heading into the second inning.
Max Lopez drew a lead-off walk for Sudan to begin the second inning and he took second on a past ball, before King singled to left field, putting runners on the corners for Sudan. King took second on a pitch, before Wilson struck out looking for out number one. Lopez scored on a bad pick-off to third by Mejia and King took third on an overthrow back to the pitcher, making the score, 5-0.
Groetken hit a sacrifice chopper to second base and was thrown out at first, as King scored to push their lead to, 6-0. Julian Salas drew a walk and took second on a pitch, before Jesus Salas also walked, putting runners on the corners for the Hornets. Jesus Salas took second on a pitch, before Derek Rosa hit a shot to shortstop, but a throwing error to first allowed one run to score, stretching their lead to, 7-0.
Jesus Salas got into a pickle between third and home, before a throw past the catcher allowed him tos score and Rosa to advance to third on the play with the score, 80. Juarez would chop out to the pitcher to retire the side.
Sudan’s defense would falter a little bit in the bottom half of the second, as they gave up eight runs, as Muleshoe tied the game, 8-8, going into the third inning.
Bohler drew a walk to lead off the top of the third for Sudan, as Mejia was relieved by Angel Cabrera on the mound. Bohler stole second on a pitch and scored on errors to regain the lead for Sudan, 9-8, as Lopez drew a walk to give the Hornets a runner. King hit an infield single to third base and Wilson followed it up with an RBI single through the right side, making the score, 10-8, with runners on second and third.
King and Wilson scored on wild pitches to push their lead to, 12-8, and Groetken drew a walk to put a runner on for Sudan. Julian Salas was hit by a pitch and Jesus Salas followed it up with an RBI ground rule double to left-center field to push their lead to, 13-8, with one out. Rosa grounded out to Cabrera at second base for out number two, but Corde Coker hit a swinging bunt down the third-base line for an RBI-single, extending the lead to, 14-8.
Bohler was hit by a pitch and Lopez walked to load the bases, before King ripped a two-RBI single up the middle to push their lead to, 16-8. King took second on a pitch to get into scoring position, and Wilson hit a two-RBI double to right field to stretch their lead to, 18-8. Groetken had an RBIsingle fall in shallow center field and he scored on a past ball to extend the lead to, 20-8.
Julian Salas scored on a past ball, but Rosa was tagged out trying to take second and third to retire the side, with the score, 21-8.
Time expired in the bottom of the third, as Sudan moved to 1-0 in tournament play.