Big Sixth Inning Lead to Moo Comeback Victory

Rich Ray • May 26, 2024

Pierre, South Dakota- After spotting the Oahe Zap three runs in the bottom of the first inning,

the Fremont Moo scored six unanswered runs and recorded a 6-3 victory, Saturday night at

Hyde Stadium. Fremont has won two of the first three games and will strive for the series

clincher Sunday afternoon.

For the second straight game, Oahe plated two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff

batter Jackson Mix singled off Fremont starter Bobby Simmons. After Tyler Hoffman reached on

a fielder’s choice, Alec Vincent was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Then, Vince

Polizzi delivered an RBI single, scoring Hoffman to make it 1-0. The next batter, Mason Lang,

grounded out to second, scoring Vincent, to put the Zap ahead 2-0. Mike Maanum reached on

an errant throw by Moo third baseman Carson Burnett, and the return throw back to the infield

by Fremont first baseman Dylan Brandenburg went array, scoring Polizzi, to make it 3-0, Oahe.

After five straight innings struggling at the plate, Fremont manufactured runs in the top of the

sixth. Leadoff batter Miles Meadows singled and Carson Burnett drew a walk off Oahe starter

Ben Irsfeld. A wild pitch moved the two base runners along, however, Meadows tried to score

from second base and was out at the plate. The next batter, Cooper Fuchino, smacked an RBI

double, scoring Burnett, to make it 3-1. Two batters later, Bridger Coleman reached on an error

by Zap second baseman Jackson Mix, which scored Fuchino, to make it 3-2, in favor of Oahe.

Brayden Chaney followed up with a single before Dylan Brandenburg hit a two-RBI single down

the right field line, scoring Coleman and Chaney, giving Fremont its first lead, at 4-3.

In the seventh inning, Fremont expanded the lead off Oahe reliever Collin Quandee. Brayden

Hodges drew a walk and two batters later, Carson Burnett did the same. After Fuchino popped

up to shortstop for the second out, Isaac Bonner walked to load the bases. The next batter,

Bridger Coleman drew a bases loaded free pass, to score Hodges, and put Fremont ahead 5-3,

going into the seventh inning stretch.

The Moo completed its stretch of unanswered runs in the top of the eighth inning. With one out,

Brandenburg reached on an error by newly inserted Zap second baseman Trey Martin.

Brayden Hodges grounded out to third for the second out, but advanced Brandenburg into

scoring position. The next batter, Miles Meadows, hit an RBI single to center field, scoring

Brandenbug, to put Fremont ahead, 6-3.

The score would remain the same going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Fremont reliever

Hayden Kelberlau gave up a leadoff single to Noah Wiggins. A wild pitch advanced Wiggins to

second base, to give the Zap some life. However, Kelberlau struck out Alec Vincent and Jacob

Trusner, both looking, and got Mason Lang to pop out in foul territory to Moo third baseman,

Carson Burnett, for the final out of the game.

Fremont (2-1) scored six runs off nine hits and committed three errors. Oahe (1-2) plated three

runs off eleven hits and also committed three errors.

Moo starting pitcher Bobby Simmons (1-0), a Nebraska Wesleyan product, earned the win. He

pitched 5.2 innings, giving up seven hits, two earned runs, struck out three and walked one.

Hayden Kelberlau (1) earned the save. The Augustana reliever pitched 3.1 innings, giving up

four hits, no runs, struck out eight and walked one.

Oahe starter Ben Irsfeld (0-1) took the loss. He worked 6.0 innings, giving up seven hits, one

earned run, struck out four and walked two. Collin Quandee pitched 1.0 inning, giving up one

run and walked four. Jacob Skinner pitched 2.0 innings, giving up two hits, one unearned run

and struck out two.

Offensively, Fremont was led by Miles Meadows. The Solano Community College outfielder

went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Cooper Fuchini, the Creighton product, was 2-for-5 and knocked in a

run. Bridger Coleman, the catcher from Allan Hancock College, was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Dylan

Brandenburg, out of Skyline College, was 1-for-4 with a run driven in.

For Oahe, Jackson Mix was 2-for-3. Tyler Hoffman was 2-for-3 and scored a run. Noah

Wiggins went 2-for-2. Vince Pollizi was 1-for-3 with an RBI and Mason Lang was 1-for-5 with a

run batted in.

Fremont will attempt to claim the series from the Zap in the final game of the four-game set,

Sunday afternoon. First pitch at Hyde Stadium will be 1:11pm. The audio of the game will

stream online at www.fremontmoo.com, with Rich Ray and Alex Burstein on the call, beginning

at 12:45pm.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Moo try to break three-game skid Monday against Hastings

By Alex Burstein • 17 Jun, 2024

Theo Hughes pitches at Hastings on May 29, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Wittig)

Sodbusters Sweep Moo

By Rich Ray • 16 Jun, 2024

Hastings, Nebraska - In Independence League Baseball Association Saturday night, the Hastings Sodbusters swept a doubleheader from the Fremont Moo, 3-1 and 5-1. With the losses, Fremont has lost three straight games, which ties the longest skid of the season for the Moo. In game one, Hastings got things going in the bottom of the first. Against Fremont starter Zach Vincent, Drew Vega led off with a single and stole second base. Two batters later, Sawyer Duddleston singled to put runners at first and third. Then, Kale Jensen hit an rbi single, scoring Vega, to make it 1-0. Two batters later, Ryan Jarvis singled, driving in Duddleston, to make it a 2-0 Sodbusters lead. Fremont got on the board in the top of the second. Against Hastings starter Jack Kruger, Isaac Bonner led off the inning with a double. Two batters later, Connor Peterson hit an rbi double, bringing in Bonner, to make the score 2-1. The Sodbusters pushed across another run in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, Jackson Crain doubled. Then, Alexiel Delgado hit an rbi single, scoring Crain, to make the score, 3-1. Both teams stalled offensively the remainder of the game. In the top of the seventh, Hunter Snyder hit a two-out single for Fremont. However, Jack Kruger struck out Cooper Fuchino looking, to end the game. Hastings scored three runs off nine hits with one error. Fremont had one run off four hits and no errors. Hastings starter Jack Kruger (3-0) earned the win. He pitched all seven innings, giving up one run off four hits, struck out six and walked one. Fremont's Zach Vincent (1-2) took the loss. He pitched 6.0 innings, giving up three runs off nine hits, struck out three and walked one and hit one batter. Offensively for Hastings, Kale Jensen was 1-for-3 with an rbi. Ryan Jarvis went 3-for-3 and drove in a run. Alexiel Delgado was 2-for-2 with one run batted in. For Fremont, Connor Petersen was 1-for-3 with one rbi. In game two, Hastings got the scoring started in the bottom of the first, again. With one out, Josh Prinner was hit by a pitch from Fremont starter Reece Kortum. After a wild pitch advanced Prinner to second, Sawyer Duddleston singled, driving in Prinner, to make it 1-0. The Sodbusters put together their biggest inning of the night in the third, sending ten batters to the plate and scoring four runs. Drew Vega led off with a single. Then, Josh Prinner walked, to put runners at first and second. Three batters later, Yamato Sato hit a two-rbi single to right field, scoring Vega and Prinner, to make it 3-0. Ryan Jarvis and Tyler Welsh walked, and that ended the night for Reece Kortum. Ryan Semin came on in relief and gave up an rbi single to Nathan Masar, scoring Sato, to make it 4-0. The next batter, Alexiel Delgado, drew a bases loaded walk, bringing home Jarvis, to make it a 5-0 Hastings lead. Fremont got on the board in the top of the sixth. Against Hastings reliever Michael Hanna, Trey Brooks drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Cooper Fuchino singled and after a throw came through the infield to home, Fuchino took off for second, but was thrown out. Meanwhile, Brooks scored on the play, to make it 5-1. The Moo tried to put something together in the top of the seventh against reliever Markus Miller. Bridger Coleman drew a lead off walk. Dean Reynolds flew out to left and Isaac Bonner reached on a fielder's choice, while Coleman was forced out at second. Miller struck out Tyrus Petsche to end the game, giving the Sodbusters the doubleheader sweep. Hastings (10-5) scored five runs off five hits with no errors. Fremont (11-8) scored one run off three hits with no errors. Sodbusters starter Jude Sundquist (2-1) earned the win. He pitched 5.0 innings, giving up two hits, struck out five and walked three. Michael Hanna pitched 1.0 inning, giving up one run off one hit and walked one. Markus Miller pitched 1.0 inning and walked one. Fremont starter Reece Kortum (1-2) pitched 2.2 innings, giving up five runs off four hits, struck out two and walked five. Ryan Semin pitched 3.1 innings, giving up one hit, struck out three and walked one. Offensively for Hastings, Drew Vega was 2-for-4. Sawyer Duddleston was 1-for-3 with an rbi. Yamato Sato was 1-for-3 and drove in two runs. Nathan Masar was 1-for-2 with an rbi, and Alexiel Delgado went 0-2, but drew a bases-loaded walk. Fremont could only muster three singles off Sodbuster pitching. With the losses Fremont slipped to third place in the ILB standings, 3.0 games behind the league-leading Casper Spuds, with one week left in the first half schedule. Both teams will have Sunday off, then will play each other again, Monday night at 6:35 p.m., at Duncan Field. The game will be broadcast on Big Dog Country, 98.9 FM and 1340 AM, KHUB. Rich Ray and Alex Burstein will have the call, beginning at 6:15 p.m. Audio will also stream at: www.fremontmoo.com/mixlr .