After scoring seven early runs, the Fremont Moo (26-12) held off the Hastings Sodbusters (9-28) in a 9-7 win to complete the sweep.
The Moo jumped ahead early, reminiscent of the previous night’s 18-3 scoring rampage. In the first inning, Austin Baskin scored the Moo’s first run on a Sodbusters’ fielding error.
The top of the third brought a shower of singles and six runs for Fremont. Brock Reller led off with a double off the first pitch of the inning, followed by a Luke White single. Jack Simonsen’s RBI single to right field scored Reller, as a single by Ryne Hays moved White over to third. With the bases loaded and two outs, Dillon Sears knocked a two-RBI single to centerfield, giving the Moo a 4-0 advantage. Ryne Hays swiped third with Derian Morphew at the plate, allowing him to trot home on Morphew’s RBI single. With the hit, Morphew extended his hitting streak to ten games. Baskin then lined a single to left field to score Sears and Morphew to collect the Moo’s last runs of the frame.
The Sodbusters cut the lead to three in the fourth, tallying four runs. The Moo bats quieted for three innings, registering zeroes on the scoreboard, as Hastings added another run in the top of the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, Baskin doubled to bring in two, giving the Moo more insurance and a 9-4 lead. The Sodbusters tallied one run in each of the last three frames but could not overcome the Moo’s early offensive explosion.
Moo reliever Brendon Jones earned his first win, while Steven Boyd was credited with the save. Starter Dawson Linder, a 2021 Expedition League All-Star Game selection, went four innings, giving up six hits and four runs while striking out six.
The Moo offense once again lit up the scoreboard, knocking in 13 hits. Reller highlighted the Fremont bats, going 3-for-5. Sears and White both went 2-for-4, while Baskin registered a game-high four RBI’s.
The Moo will return home for a weekend series against the Sioux Falls Sunfish with first pitch at 7:05 PM Friday. Tune into Nate Rohr and Zach Berman’s broadcast on FremontMoo.com and Big Dog 98.9 FM and 1340 AM.
