GRAND ISLAND – The Kearney Bearcats ended splitting their day at Grand Island’s Ryder Park, shutting down Norfolk 13-2 with dominant bats, but ultimately leaving with missed chances in a 5-4 loss to the Islanders in the night cap.
The triangular had Grand Island facing Norfolk to being the afternoon slate, while the Panthers would then face Kearney in game two, and would end with the Islanders taking on the Bearcats in the night cap.
GAME ONE:
In game one against Norfolk, Kole Throckmorton was prepared for his role as the Panthers grim reaper – driving in five runs on two hits aiding the Bearcats to their 13-2 crushing of Norfolk. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
KHS Baseball v. Norfolk @ Ryder Park
Kearney held an early lead in the contest, but trailed at the end of the first inning after a misfired throw to end the inning allowed two runs to come across for Norfolk. The early mistake but Kearney in a 2-1 hole, but the Bearcats quickly dug themselves out as Throckmorton found his first RBI of the day in the second inning.
The Bearcats scored three runs in the third to pull away before stamping on six in the seventh to punctuate their victory. Bryce Andersen earned the victory on the mound, working six and a third innings allowing two runs on two hits with seven strikeouts. Gavin Goodner arrived in relief to throw to strikeouts out of the bullpen.
Kearney racked up thirteen runs off of fourteen hits with one error, while Norfolk was limited to two runs on two hits and one error.
KHS Baseball v. Norfolk @ Ryder Park
GAME TWO:
Game two for Kearney in the Ryder Park triangular wrapped in a disappointing fashion, as the tying run in the top of the seventh inning was left stranded at third as the final out came after the Islanders claimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth to knock down the Bearcats 5-4. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
KHS Baseball @ Grand Island
The Bearcats stayed in the contest and kept their composure early, as Grand Island looked to start hot but Quinn Foster’s pitching battled and kept Kearney alive.
The Islanders took an early lead in the first inning after Kearney went up 1-0 in the top of the inning. Braxton Barrientos singled in his first pitch at bat, scoring one run while another run would cross for Grand Island off of a loaded bases walk.
Kearney would then roar back, scoring three runs in the fourth after being held scoreless in the second and third. Garrison Burns and Karter Lee each had RBIs in the frame. Grand island would tie up by the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs including a shot by Tyler Douglass off of a single.
In the bottom of the sixth still tied at four runs each, Douglass’ sacrifice fly scored the winning run for the Islanders as Kearney went down early in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Kearney had moved Foster to third off of an errant throw to first. The final fly out ended the hopes of Kearney, officially splitting their evening at Ryder Park.
Kearney fell off of scoring four runs with seven hits and no errors. Grand Island (6-2) had five runs scored off of seven hits with four errors.
The Bearcats (4-8) now head back to Lincoln’s Densmore Fields taking on Lincoln High and Lincoln North Star on Saturday prior to a busy week with the HAC Tournament on Tuesday through Wednesday, followed by home contests against Hastings on Friday and Fremont on Saturday.
KHS Baseball @ Grand Island
