Mudsock sporting events are expected to be dramatic. Game 1 of this year’s baseball series delivered.
Hamilton Southeastern enjoyed a 7-1 lead on host Fishers Friday night before the Tigers made a rally in the sixth and seventh innings. Fishers was one base away from tying things up before the Royals finally got the third out and a 7-6 victory to take the opener of the three-game series.
“You learn certain things about your team, in all these experiences in this incredible conference that we play in and incredible rivalry that is Fishers and HSE,” said Southeastern coach Jeremy Sassanella. He credited his team with finding a way to grind out the game, which is also a Hoosier Crossroads Conference contest.
“There’s some things we obviously have to clean up, but we competed well and we kept our heads and composure there at the end,” said Sassanella. “Fishers is a really good ball club and they were knocking on the door and coming after us. We were just blessed enough to come out with a win.”
The Tigers scored the first run of the game in the second inning, when JP Preston singled in Tristan Baker. The Royals took the lead in the third inning, with Greyson Droste batting in Anthony Eggers, then Jack DeWolf singled home Brayton Harrison.
Southeastern continued to roll in the fourth inning, as Cole DeWael hit a line drive to bring in Jordan Millikan. Harrison scored his second run in the fifth, when he got home on a wild pitch. The Royals then added three more runs in the sixth inning, with DeWael scoring Millikan on a sacrifice fly, then Droste slammed a center field triple to bring in Matthew Buckingham and Harrison.
Fishers began to rally in the bottom of the sixth with two runs. JJ Woolwine singled in Nick Lukac, then Daniel Owens doubled in Dominic Oliverio. The run continued in the seventh inning: Grant Whetsel led off with a double, and Lukac batted him in with a center field hit.
Kiel Brenczewski singled in Lukac, then Oliverio scored on an error to get the Tigers within one run. The Tigers had the bases loaded with two outs, but Cole Graverson finished the game with a strikeout, giving HSE the hard-fought win.
Eggers finished the game 3-for-5 at the plate, including a double, while Droste was 2-for-4 and totaled three RBIs. Jake Huston hit a triple, and Millikan had a double. Michael Dillon pitched six innings for the win, striking out seven.
Lukac went 3-for-4, including a triple, while Brenczewski was 2-for-3. Jon Vore tossed six strikeouts in five innings.
The series continues at Southeastern’s Ken Seitz Field this morning in a doubleheader. First pitch is at 10 a.m.
Hamilton Southeastern 7, Fishers 6
Southeastern AB R H RBI
Anthony Eggers 5 1 3 0
Jake Stout 0 0 0 0
Cole DeWael 2 0 1 2
Matthew Buckingham 3 1 0 0
Brayton Harrison 2 3 0 0
Greyston Droste 4 0 2 3
Jack DeWolf 4 0 1 1
Jake Huston 4 0 1 0
Matt Iacobucci 3 0 0 0
Caden Ruhnow 0 0 0 0
Jordan Millikan 2 2 1 0
Cam Bolling 1 0 0 0
Totals 30 7 9 6
3B: Droste, Huston. 2B: Eggers, Millikan. SB: Buckingham, Harrison. SAC: DeWael 2. HBP: Ruhnow.
Southeastern pitching IP R ER H
Michael Dillon (W) 6.0 4 3 8
Stout 0.1 2 1 1
Cole Graverson (S) 0.2 0 0 1
Strikeouts: Dillon 7, Graverson 2. Walks: Stout 2, Dillon 1.
Fishers AB R H RBI
Nick Lukac 4 2 3 1
Dominic Oliverio 3 2 0 0
JJ Woolwine 3 0 1 1
Kiel Brenczewski 3 0 2 1
Daniel Owens 3 0 1 1
Kaid Muth 4 0 1 0
JP Preston 4 0 1 0
Grant Whetsel 3 1 1 0
Collin Shelton 3 0 0 0
Tristan Baker 0 1 0 0
Michael Hart 0 0 0 0
Totals 30 6 10 4
3B: Lukac. 2B: Owens, Whetsel. SAC: Owens.
Fishers pitching IP R ER H
Jon Vore 5.0 4 4 7
Owens 0.2 3 3 2
Michael Hart 0.1 0 0 0
Cory Walter 1.0 0 0 0
Strikeouts: Vore 6. Walks: Vore 2, Owens 2.
Score by innings
Southeastern 002 113 0 – 7 9 1
Fishers 010 002 3 – 6 10 2