It was another slugfest between Noblesville and Fishers Friday night at Don Dunker Field, with the Millers coming back to beat the Tigers 10-8 in the second game of the series between the two teams.
With the victory, Noblesville swept the Hoosier Crossroads Conference series.
Fishers literally came out swinging, as Nick Lukac started the game with a home run on the first pitch. Later, Daniel Owens hit a left field single to score Collin Shelton and Tristan Baker. Baker was running for Kiel Brenczewski, who got on base with a double.
That gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Noblesville answered in the bottom of the inning, as Cade Nelis smacked a triple into center field, scoring Cooper Miles and Matt Peek.
Fishers added four runs in the second inning. Lukac struck again, nailing a triple to center field. He scored when JJ Woolwine reached on error. Next up was Brenczewski, and he homered into right field, also sending Shelton and Woolwine home.
The Tigers led 7-2 at that point. Noblesville began its comeback by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Ethan Imel batted Nelis in, then Brady Walden scored when Cole Barnes drew a bases-loaded walk. DJ Owens hit a two-RBI single, getting Zach Gruver and Camden Nagel home.
That cut Fishers’ lead to 7-6. Kaid Muth made it 8-6 to lead off the fifth inning when he hit a solo home run into center field. That score held until the bottom of the sixth, when the Millers took the lead.
DJ Owens singled in Nagel, then Lucas Williams and Miles both scored on separate wild pitches. Owens later scored on a steal of home plate. Fishers loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with one out, but Miles came in to get the final two outs, on a strikeout and pop out.
DJ Owens and Nelis both had two hits for the Millers. Peek got the win after relieving starter Clay Holzworth, who tossed four strikeouts in four innings. Peek threw the next two and a third innings, and Miles is credited with the save.
Lukac went 4-for-5 at the plate for the Tigers, with Brenczewski and Grant Whetsel each getting two hits, including one double each.
Noblesville is still perfect in the conference at 4-0 and is 6-5 overall. Fishers drops to 1-3 in the conference and 4-7 overall. The two teams will finish their series at noon today at the Tigers’ field in a non-conference game.
Noblesville 10, Fishers 8
Fishers AB R H RBI
Nick Lukac 5 2 4 1
Collin Shelton 4 2 1 0
JJ Woolwine 4 1 1 1
Kiel Brenczewski 3 1 2 3
Kaid Muth 4 1 1 1
Daniel Owens 1 0 1 2
Dominic Oliverio 4 0 1 0
Grant Whetsel 4 0 2 0
Charlie Walker 3 0 0 0
Tristan Baker 0 1 0 0
Totals 32 8 13 8
HR: Brenczewski, Lukac, Muth. 3B: Lukac. 2B: Brenczewski, Whetsel. SB: Baker. HBP: Shelton, Walker.
Fishers pitching IP R ER H
Anthony Castellani 5 7 7 7
Jack Minns 1 3 3 2
Strikeouts: Minns 2, Castellani 1. Walks: Castellani 4, Minns 2.
Noblesville AB R H RBI
Cole Barnes 3 0 0 1
Cooper Miles 2 2 1 0
DJ Owens 3 1 2 3
Matt Peek 3 1 1 0
Cade Nelis 4 1 2 2
Brady Walden 2 1 0 0
Zach Gruver 3 1 1 0
Ethan Imel 2 0 1 1
Lucas Williams 3 1 1 0
Camden Nagel 0 2 0 0
Totals 25 10 9 7
3B: Nelis. SB: Miles 2, Owens. HBP: Miles.
Noblesville pitching IP R ER H
Clay Holzworth 4.0 8 7 9
Peek (W) 2.1 0 0 3
Miles (S) 0.2 0 0 0
Strikeouts: Holzworth 4, Peek 2, Miles 1. Walks: Holzworth 2, Peek 2.
Score by innings
Fishers 340 010 0 – 8 12 0
Noblesville 200 404 x – 10 9 2