Hornets walk it off against #24 Lions, 13-3

The Sudan Hornets’ varsity baseball team walked off with a, 13-3, victory over 2A #24 New Deal on Saturday to split the season series with the Lions.

With the win, the Hornets improve to 9-5 overall, 3-1 in district play.

Sudan sophomore, Caleb Groetken, got the lead-off man, Aiden Ysaguirre, to strike out swinging for out number one in the top of the first inning, but Ray Alonzo singled through the right side to give the Lions a base runner. Alonzo took second on a past ball, but Groetken got Bryson Houston to strike out swinging for out number two, as Alonzo took third on the play. Groetken would get Tyler Bigham to strike out looking to retire the side.

In the home-half of the first, Jaibryn Ornelas and Trent Wilson drew back-to-back walks to lead things off, before Cal Carter popped up a bunt to Houston in front of the mound for out number one. Ornelas took third on a throw into center field by Tyler Bigham, but on the next play, Wilson was thrown out at second by Tyler Bigham for out number two.

Groetken singled ona throwing error to first by the second baseman, Konner Vasquez, as Ornelas scored to put the Hornets up, 1-0. Jesus Salas followed it up with an RBI-single through the right side to put the Hornets up, 2-0, before Julian Salas lined out to Tristan Bigham on the mound to end the inning.

The Lions would break through in the top of the second inning, as Jarred Galloway drew a lead-off walk and David Aguirre was hit by a pitch to put two runners on for New Deal. Both runners would advance on a pitch, before Tristan Bigham struck out swinging for out number one.

Camden Smith drew a walk to load the bases, but Groetken got Atreyu Wilson to strike out swinging for out number two. Ysaguirre and Alonzo drew backto- back RBI-walks to tie the game, 2-2, before Houston chopped out to Carter at shortstop to retire the side.

Marcello King got the bottom half of the inning started with a single up the middle for Sudan and he took second on a pitch, before Abran Granados laid down a bunt that was fielded by Houston, but the throw to first was dropped by Vasquez putting runners on the corners for Sudan. Kooper Edwards laid down a sacrifice bunt on the first-base side and he was thrown out at first, as Granados advanced to second with one out.

Ornelas followed it up with an RBI-single on an error by Wilson at shortstop, putting the Hornets back in front, 3-2. Wilson kept the rally going with an RBI-single to left-field, stretching their lead to, 4-2. Carter drew a walk to load the bases, but Groetken hit into a fielder’s choice to Houston at first who went home with the play for the force out at the plate for out number two. Jesus Salas would fly out to left-cetner field to end the inning.

Groetken got Tyler Bigham to line out to Ornelas in right field for out number one to begin the third inning, but Galloway singled off the left-center field fence and Aguirre drew a walk for the Lions, however, they would be stranded, as Groetken got Tristan Bigham and Destry Griffis both to strike out swinging to retire the side.

Julian Salas drew a lead-off walk to get the bottom of the third inning underway for Sudan, as Kasen Kauffman came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher. King struck out looking for out number one, but Granados was hit by a pitch, before Tristan Bigham was relieved by Houston on the mound for the Lions.

Edwards drew a walk to load the bases, and Ornelas followed it up with a two-RBI single to right-center field, stretching the lead to, 62, with runners on the corners for the Hornets. Wilson kept it going with an RBI-single on a throwing error to first by Griffis, allowing Ornelas to take third on the play, with the score stretched to, 7-2.

Carter drew a walk to load the bases and Groetken was also walked to bring in a run, making the score, 8-2. Jesus Salas hit a fly ball to right field that was dropped to bring in a run as the runners advanced on the play. Groetken was thrown out at second on some confusion on the play for out number two, as they pushed the lead to, 9-2.

Julian Salas hit a slow roller to Tristan Bigham at third and beat the throw to first as another run scored and Jesus Salas advanced to second with the lead pushed out to, 10-2. King would chop out to Houston on the mound to end the inning.

The Hornets got the Lions to go three-up-and-three-down in the top of the fourth inning, and in the bottom half of the inning after a strikeout by Granados, Edwards singled past Griffis at second base to give Sudan a base runner. Ornelas flew out to Aguirre in right-center field for out number two, but Edwards took second and third on past balls before Wilson drew a walk to put runners on the corners for Sudan.

Carter drew a walk to load the bases, as Griffis relieved Houston on the mound. Groetken ripped a two-RBI single into right-center field making the score, 12-2, with runners on the corners again for Sudan. Jesus Salas drew a walk to load the bases, but Julian Salas chopped out to Houston at first to end the inning.

Houston chopped out to Groetken on the first-base side to begin the fifth inning, but Tyler Bigham singled on an error by Carter at shortstop to give the Lions a runner. Groetken got Galloway to strike out swinging, as Tyler Bigham advnaced to second with two outs. He took third on a pitch before Aguirre drew a walk to put runners on the corners for New Deal.

Jesus Salas relieved Groetken on the mound, as Groetken exhausted his pitch count a run scored on a past ball making the score, 12-3, with a runner on third, but Aguirre would try and score on a short past ball, but he was tagged out at the plate by Julian Salas to retire the side.

Tyler Bigham relieved Griffis on the mound for the Lions to begin the home-half of the fifth, as King drew a lead-off walk and Derek Rosa was hit by a pitch. Edwards laid down a sacrifice bunt to Tyler Bigham, who got the out at first as the runners advanced to second and third. Ornelas drew a walk to load the bases, but Wilson struck out swinging for out number two. Carter, though would draw a walk to walk it off for Sudan, giving the Hornets the, 13-3, run-rule victory.

Groetken pitched 4.2 innings for the Hornets, giving up two hits, six walks and three runs, two earned, while earning nine strikeouts. Jesus Salas pitched 0.1 innings and earned the save.

The Hornets hosted Floydada on Tuesday for their first meeting with the Whirlwinds. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Friday with a road game against the Whirlwinds.

First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.