Plainsmen Cannot Seal Victories Against Lamar

Plainsmen Cannot Seal Victories Against Lamar

Apr. 20, 2019, Sterling, Colo. — In a three-game bill at Plainsmen Park, the Northeastern baseball team hosted the Lamar Lopes looking to gain the series advantage against the Region IX opponent. The Plainsmen were up 2-1 in the series, so the men needed to get two wins. Defeating the Lopes in one game was the bare minimum in order to get the series split. 

In the first game, the Plainsmen watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover in a 10-4 loss to Lamar. The game began on a high note when Northeastern put up three runs in the first inning when Jaxon Rosencranz hit a three-run homer. Lamar countered in the second by scoring four and taking the 4-3 lead. The game remained close until the seventh when the Lopes scored five runs, ultimately sealing the victory 10-4. Jayden Smith took the loss for the Plainsmen as he surrendered five runs on four hits over four and a third innings, striking out seven. 

The second game of the doubleheader was another game where Lamar got their bats hot in the final inning, leading to a 4-1 Northeastern loss. The Plainsmen led 1-0 in the bottom of the third when Andrew Paige II singled to score Matthew Armendariz. The game remained a 1-0 game until the top of seven when Lamar hit a grand slam. Those runs dampened the Plainsmen's energy which then led to the 4-1 loss. Cameron Spaeth started the game and allowed one hit and one run over six and a third innings, striking out ten and walking one. Cole Halpin threw two-thirds of an inning in relief. 

With two games and two losses behind them, the Plainsmen needed to get the final game, which was a nine-inning game. The game was a heartbreaker for Northeastern as they lost the lead late in a 16-7 defeat. The game was tied 7-7 after the bottom of the sixth, but Lamar found a rhythm in the seventh and eighth innings to score a total of nine runs. The Plainsmen eventually fell to the Lopes 16-7, giving Lamar the 4-2 series advantage. Praxie Vigil started the game for the Plainsmen as he allowed six hits and three runs over three innings, striking out two and walking one. Andrew Ferrin took the loss and allowed zero hits and two runs over one-third of an inning, walking one. Others who pitched for the Plainsmen were Sean Whalen, Jordan Chappell, Jacob Baasch, and Tanner Kimmineau, who all had no decisions as they came in out of the bullpen. 

Northeastern looks to hop back on their horse as they will host another two-game series at Plainsmen Park against the Western Nebraska Cougars on Wednesday, Apr. 24. First pitch set to be thrown at 1 p.m.