Waldorf Clinches Season Series Over Broncos with Day 2 Sweep

(Hastings, NE) – After a split on day one of their conference-opening series against Waldorf, Hastings went 0-2 in the day two doubleheader, taking three of four from the Broncos.

The Warriors began game one with three runs in the first inning, with all RBI's coming on singles, aided by a walk and a hit batter to go up 3-0.

Hastings answered back in the second with three of their own to tie it. Senior Elijah Merritt and junior Tristan Martinez doubled to begin the inning to put two runners in scoring position. Senior Mason Masur reached on an error to load the bases, then an infield chopper by sophomore Ronak Crossley moved each runner up 90 feet to score their first run. Junior Jaden Stone walked and junior Ben Richter was hit by a pitch to make it a 3-3 game.

With two outs in the fifth, Merritt tripled to left and scored on a passed ball to go up 4-3, but Waldorf came right back with two runs in the sixth to retake the lead at 5-4.

The Broncos responded well in the sixth with the first two batters reaching by walk. With one out and Crossley on third, he scored on a balk to tie it up at five. Stone walked in the next at-bat and came around to score on an error committed by the Waldorf third baseman trying to field a hard-hit ball by Richter, who advanced to second on the play. With two outs and runners on the corners, Merritt singled up the middle to put Hastings ahead, 7-5.

Leading 7-5 going to the seventh, Hastings got the first two batters out to begin the inning, but a walk and RBI double cut the lead to one. Waldorf loaded the bases and while Hastings got a strikeout with the next batter, the ball got away, allowing all runners to move up 90 feet to tie the game.

After Hastings was unable to score in the seventh, Waldorf led off the extra inning with a triple to deep left center and scored the go-ahead run on a double down the third base line. Hastings was unable to get a base-runner in the eighth, as they fell 8-7 in game one.

Merritt delivered at the plate in game one, going 3-5 with a double, triple, RBI, and run scored. Crossley was 2-3 with a walk, RBI, and run scored.

In game two, Waldorf hit a one-out triple in the second inning that came around to score on an RBI single in the next at-bat to take a 1-0 lead. The Warriors opened the third with a walk and stolen base, then an RBI single put them up 2-0.

Hastings first scoring opportunity came in the fourth inning when freshman Jordin Albertson and sophomore Jared Delgado hit one-out singles, but Waldorf retired each of the next two batters to strand the runners.

Waldorf scratched across two runs in the fifth on sac flies to take a 4-0 lead. The Broncos got on the board with two in the sixth, as Stone and Albertson walked with one out and Delgado doubled them both home with a long fly ball to left, cutting the lead to two at 4-2 going to the seventh.

After a quick top of the seventh, senior Alliskair Descartes hit a one-out double but Hastings grounded out and struck out to end the game. Delgado was Hastings' best hitter in game two, going 2-3 with a double, and two RBIs in game two.

Up next, Hastings will play at Dakota Wesleyan for a double-header on Friday, Mar. 21 at 12pm.