Courtesy of the Fremont Moo
The Moo scored seven runs in the eighth to defeat the Oahe Zap 12-8. It was highlighted by Tyman Long hitting two home runs, Cooper Fuchino with a bases-clearing triple, and Nate Wachter with a three-run home run to secure the victory.
Entering the Thursday night clash, one team entered fighting for a chance at their first ILB Championship Series appearance, the other had been there before but were out of the race to repeat for a third consecutive season. The Moo had the opportunity to play spoiler to the Zap’s championship hopes while looking to pick up a home win for the Fremont fans.
Tyler Wise (Kansas Wesleyan) would make his third start of the season and work an efficient first, retiring the Zap in under twenty pitches. The Moo would face Estevan Baca for the second time this season and would strand a pair of runners.
Both pitchers would work scoreless second innings. The third would see the Zap score a run in the top of the frame. An RBI single from Aiden Johnson would see the Zap jump in front. The Zap lead wouldn’t last long, however. Cooper Fuchino (Creighton) hit an RBI single into center to bring home Tanner Jacobson (Cloud County) to tie it at one. Then, Tyman Long (North Dakota State) would come to the plate with Carter Sintek (Houston) on third. Long would drive home Sintek and himself by hitting his third home run of the season. The inning would come to a close, and the Moo had the lead, 3-1.
The Zap responded in a big way. A six-run inning. All nine batters stepped to the plate. The highlight of the inning was a little league home run from Ty Farwell that scored two runs and himself, giving the Zap a 7-3 lead.
There would be no scoring from either side until the sixth, where the Zap would plate a run in the top of the inning and Fremont’s center fielder Tanner Jacobson (Cloud County) would hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Nate Wachter (South Dakota State) to make it 8-4. The Moo would strand the bases loaded to keep the score in Oahe’s favor at 8-4.
Aiden McGrath (Skyline) in relief would pitch a scoreless seventh before giving way to the Moo bats. Tyman Long would dig in and drive a ball well over the Moller Monster for his second home run of the night, for his team-leading fourth home run of the season. The Moo moved with three runs of a tie heading to the eighth.
After another scoreless frame from McGrath, the Moo stepped to the plate looking for a big inning. Conner Hammonds would enter in the eighth on the mound for the Zap and walk the first three batters of the inning. A prime opportunity for Carter Sintek to drive a run in, and he would with an RBI single.
The hit would chase Hammonds out of the ballgame, leaving the bases loaded for Cooper Fuchino. Fuchino wouldn’t waste his chance to play hero and lined a triple down into the right field corner to bring home all three on base to give the Moo a one-run lead.
Nate Wachter would enter the box with two on, leading by a run, and leave the box leading by four with his first home run of the season. A three-run blast to cap off a seven-run inning to make it 12-8 Moo.
The Moo would head to the ninth up by four runs as Aiden McGrath would retake the bump, looking to secure the first win for the Moo against the Zap this season.
Aiden McGrath would collect the win while Conner Hammonds gets handed the loss.
The Moo scored twelve (12) runs on thirteen (13) hits, while committing two (2) errors. The Zap scored eight (8) runs on ten (10) hits and committed one (1) error.
Fremont moves to a 22-24 record overall and a 12-11 second-half record. The Zap moves to a 24-23 overall record and a 14-7 second-half record after the result.
The Moo are back at home tomorrow night, against the Oahe Zap beginning at 7:05 at Moller Field, as the final homestand of the season continues.
