Kearney Baseball @ Fremont 2024
FREMONT – Kegan Brand’s big day began in the fifth inning, scoring three runs on a blast to right-center field then leading five strikeouts on the mound for his third save of the season to take down Fremont 5-4 on Monday night. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
The Bearcats (13-10) earned their third win in a row, scoring five runs on eight hits with two errors while Fremont (8-6) dropped the home matchup while scoring four runs on seven hits.
On a windy day with gusts blustering at thirty to thirty-five miles per hour around first pitch, the Bearcats and Tigers paced each other in the early stretch of the matchup. Fremont drew first blood, putting up their first run of the contest in the bottom of the third.
The home team would add a second run in the fourth, as Kearney failed to garner a run to tie the contest in the inning.
However, in the fifth inning the Bearcats bats came alive, beginning with Kaleb Larson, Garrison Burns, and Griffin Novacek getting on base with walks and singles. With the wind behind him, Brand launched a shot towards the outfield for a three-RBI double, pushing Kearney in the lead up 3-2. The Bearcats would add a fourth run in the inning, going up 4-2 after Brand stepped in relief for starter Derrick Nonhof to quickly shut down the Tigers lineup in the bottom of the frame.
Kearney added an insurance run in the sixth, but the seventh inning proved nearly lethal as the Tigers mounted a comeback. Fremont battled back, taking advantage of a Kearney mistake on a throw to first to score their fourth run of the contest and advance a runner into scoring position with the potential to tie the game. Instead, Brand sat his final batter and earned his third save on the year.
The Bearcats’ Nonhof earned the win for Kearney, going four innings allowing seven hits with two runs, no walks, and two strikeouts. Brand finished with three innings, no hits, four walks, and five strikeouts.
Kearney Baseball @ Fremont 2024
Kearney had Brand lead the scoring with 3 RBI on his one-of-four afternoon, while Novacek finished three-of-three and a walk.
The Bearcats are back in action Tuesday afternoon, staying overnight on the eastern edge of the state to take on Bellevue East. First pitch is scheduled for 3 PM as KGFW will broadcast the contest with pregame set to begin at 2:45 PM.
Alex Hammeke will be on the call for the contest. Hear Kearney Baseball on 1340 KGFW, 96.1 FM, on the free KGFW mobile app, and online at KGFW.com.
