A late rally by the Fremont Moo came up just short as the Badlands Big Sticks completed a three-game sweep of the Moo with a 7-4 victory Sunday evening.
The Big Sticks (11-11) took control of the game in a 10-batter, five-run, bottom of the fifth inning. Meanwhile, to that point, the Fremont (16-6) offense had mustered just five hits and no runs. But in the top of the sixth, a two-out rally got the Moo on the board. Brock Reller kept the inning alive with a single up the middle. Austin Callahan followed with a two-run home run to right to pull Fremont to within three. Badlands responded with two in the bottom of the sixth to rebuild its lead to five at 7-2.
But in the top of the seventh, another two-out rally got the Moo back into the game. Darien Morphew beat out an infield single. With EJ Taylor at the plate, Morphew stole second, then scored when Taylor singled to left. Then Reller lined a triple to center, scoring Taylor to bring Fremont to within 7-4.
Another two-out rally in the eighth nearly brought the Moo back to even. With two out, Austin Baskin was hit by a pitch, Dillon Sears singled and Auggie Rasmussen singled to left to load the bases. A strikeout of Morphew left the bases loaded and Fremont still trailing, 7-4.
The Moo fell despite outhitting Badlands, 15-8. Ben Simonsen (0-1) took the loss, allowing five earned runs in four innings pitched. Reller and Callahan both paced the Fremont offense by going 3-for-4, with Reller driving in a run and Callahan driving in two.
After off days Monday and Tuesday, the Moo will return to the state of North Dakota for a three-game, two-day series against the Wheat City Whiskey Jacks beginning Wednesday at 7:05 pm in Grand Forks, N. Dak. The game can be heard on FremontMoo.com and Big Dog 98.9 FM and 1340 AM.
