Plainsmen Split With Cougars

Apr. 8, 2019, Sterling, Colo. — The Plainsmen traveled to Scottsbluff, Neb. to play another two games against the Western Nebraska Cougars recently for a Region IX match-up. The teams sat tied on the overall series as they each won one game against each other. Northeastern needs to keep winning if they want to stay at the top of the Region IX standings. 

In the first game, the Plainsmen fell behind early and could not come back in a 16-10 loss to the Cougars. Western Nebraska jumped out to an early 5-2 lead after the first inning, then extended it to a 7-2 game after the second.  The Plainsmen tried to get a few back in the third by scoring three runs, but the Cougars were able to gain one back to now make it an 8-5 game. In the bottom of the fourth, the Cougars put another crooked number up to extend their lead by five. Northeastern tried to make a late run, but could not make up the deficit that happened early and lost. 

Cameron Spaeth took the loss for Northeastern as he allowed seven hits and seven runs over two innings. The Plainsmen totaled 13 hits in the game with Dylan Norsen, Jaxon Rosencranz, Roman Guthrie, and Corbin Geisendorf all having multiple hits. Norsen went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the Plainsmen in hits. 

The second game was a much different game as the Plainsmen coasted to an easy 12-4 victory over the Cougars. Northeastern fired up their offense in the first inning, when a pitch struck Rosencranz, driving in a run. Northeastern retained their two-point lead after the Cougars scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the second. The Plainsmen put up six runs in the fourth inning. The big inning was driven by singles by Rosencranz and Andrew Paige II, by Aaron Stinnett, a groundout by Jordan Garcia, and a double by Cooper Goodman. The Cougars were only able to put on two more runs by the end of the game, resulting in the Plainsmen victory. 

Jayden Smith was the winning pitcher for Northeastern. He went four innings, allowing two runs on two hits, striking out seven and walking one. Juan Esparza and Cameron Phillips entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief. The Plainsmen totaled 15 hits. Guthrie, Carter Allen, Rosencranz, and Norsen all collected multiple hits. Guthrie led the team with three hits in four at-bats. 

Northeastern looks to collect more wins on the road when they play Southeastern Community College in Beatrice, Neb.