Fremont Powers Past Hastings in High-Scoring Affair

HASTINGS, Neb. — The Fremont Moo opened a three-game series against the Hastings Sodbusters on Friday night. The Moo took control early and held off a late comeback attempt to earn a 17-14 victory in the series opener.
Liam Sullivan got things started in the first inning with a single. Burke Jasa followed with a double to drive in Sullivan and give the Moo a 1-0 lead.
The Sodbusters answered in the bottom of the first, scoring on a wild pitch to tie the game at 1-1.
After a scoreless second inning from both teams, the Moo offense came alive in the third. Tukker Horner, Giovanni Malatesta and Eamon O'Gorman drew three consecutive walks to load the bases. Sullivan was hit by a pitch to bring home Horner and give Fremont a 2-1 lead. Brayden Mitchell followed with a walk to score Malatesta and make it 3-1.
Matthew Marceau then singled to right field, driving in Sullivan and O'Gorman to extend the lead to 5-1. Mitchell later scored on a throwing error. Tyler Schroeder drew a walk to put runners on the corners before a sacrifice fly brought home another run, giving the Moo an 8-1 advantage after three innings.
Hastings chipped away at the lead in the fourth and fifth innings, scoring three runs in each frame to cut the deficit to 8-7.
The Moo responded in the sixth inning. Dominic Palma led off with a single, and Malatesta was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. A sacrifice fly brought home Palma to make it 9-7.
Fremont added more insurance in the seventh. Marceau led off with a double, and Schroeder followed with a double of his own to score Marceau and make it 10-7. Palma reached on an error, allowing Schroeder to score and extend the lead to 11-7. With two outs, Malatesta singled to advance Palma to second before O'Gorman delivered an RBI single to push the lead to 12-7.
Hastings scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to make it 12-9.
Mitchell led off the eighth with a single, and Marceau drew a walk to put two runners aboard. Schroeder advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Mitchell scored on a wild pitch to make it 13-9, and Easton Leahy followed with an RBI single to left field to score Marceau and extend the lead to 14-9.
The Moo added three more runs in the ninth. Jasa drew a one-out walk, and Mitchell was hit by a pitch. Marceau then walked to load the bases.
Schroeder drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Jasa. Palma singled up the middle to score Mitchell and make it 16-10. Leahy was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in Marceau to give Fremont a 17-10 lead.
The Sodbusters attempted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth, scoring four runs to cut the deficit to 17-14. However, the Moo recorded the final out to secure the hard-fought victory.
Statistical Standouts
- Liam Sullivan: 2-for-3, RBI, 2 runs scored
- Matthew Marceau: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 4 runs scored, walk, double
- Tyler Schroeder: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored, 2 walks
- Dominic Palma: 2-for-5, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored
The Fremont Moo (6-11) will continue the three-game series against the Hastings Sodbusters on Saturday, June 20. First pitch for the nine-inning game is scheduled for 7 p.m.










