Opening Season Split

In their opening weekend for the 2018 season, the Plainsmen traveled to Liberal, KS to play against the Seward County CC Saints.  Northeastern has been able to spend a few days outdoors taking some grounders off the infield and seeing some pop flies, but the majority of their spring has been spent in the auxiliary gym inside the event center.  Nevertheless, the men have been using their time efficiently in order to get themselves better for this opening weekend.

The first game of a double header would be a seven-inning game.  The Plainsmen were hoping that the rust would be off for the first game, but not being able to practice much outside took its toll.  The first inning would not be good for Northeastern as they would not be able to score when at bat, and then would give up a two run homer.  In the second, they would struggle offensively as two Plainsmen would strike out and one would ground out.  The Saints would be able to score four more and would extend their lead to 6-0.  In the third, although they were unable to score, the men would be solid defensively and would not allow SCCC to score either.  In the last innings, the Plainsmen were again unable to score again and the Saints scored one in each inning and would defeat the Plainsmen 9-0.

In their second game of the double header, the Plainsmen would play a nine-inning game.  After getting their first game jitters out of them, they were ready for this game.  The first inning would be a wash as both teams were unable to score.  In the second, the Plainsmen were able to put four points up as Carter Allen would hit a double and score Russell Strilchuk, Kodee Martin would single to score Ben Newton and Carter Allen, and Easton Adler would single to score Kodee Martin.  Defensively, the Plainsmen would hold the Saints to zero and lead 4-0.  In the third, Russell Strilchul would hit a solo bomb to center field to put NJC up 5-0.  In the bottom of the third however, the Plainsmen would have a rough inning and give up three, but still lead 5-3.  In the fourth, the Plainsmen had a little hump to overcome as they would not score any, and give up four points and then trail 7-5.  In the fifth, neither team would score, but then in the sixth, the Plainsmen would get hot! 

Carter Allen would get a sacrifice as he would score Ben Newton, Quinn Tomasino would git a home run to right riled to score himself, Kodee Martin, and Easton Adler.  Lastly, Zach Langerak would also get a solo homer.  That exciting inning would give the Plainsmen a lead over the Saints, 10-7.  In the seventh and eighth innings, both teams would have a stalemate and kept each other from scoring.  In the ninth and final inning, the Plainsmen kept it interesting by not scoring, and gave up two runs, but would eventually get the third and final out to seal the 10-9 victory.  The Plainsmen will have two more against the Saints on Friday February 9 at their place in Liberal, KS.