Baseball: University gets big win at Pioneer Conference game

The REPORTER

University won a Pioneer Conference game at Liberty Christian Thursday 24-1 in five innings.

The Trailblazers scored a run in every inning. The game was tied 1-1 after the first inning, but University put up four runs in the second. Beckett Suh led off that inning with an inside-the-park home run.

The Blazers then added five runs in the third inning and eight more in the fourth, including a two-RBI double from JaRell Smith. University finished the game with six runs in the fifth inning.

Five different Trailblazers had two hits: Cooper Cammack, Smith, Suh, Sterling Davis and Jacob Shearer. Cooper Burnett scored four runs, with Suh and Davis both scoring three. Cammack, Smith, Suh, Charlie Ranek and Davis all batted in two runs.

Laine Spears pitched two innings for the win, striking out six. Chase Fankhauser threw four strikeouts in two innings of relief.

University is 6-6 and hosts its Trailblazer Classic on Saturday, playing Blackford at 9 a.m. and Kokomo at 5 p.m.

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Hamilton Southeastern dropped a tough Hoosier Crossroads Conference game to Avon 10-9 Thursday at Ken Seitz Field.

The Royals got out to a strong start, scoring five runs in the first inning. Maddux Bach, Jackson Bixler and Adam Wolf all got home on wild pitches, Clark Bucher scored when Cy Cole reached on an error, then Michael Hoog got home on a wild pitch.

The Orioles scored two runs in the third inning, but Southeastern came back in the bottom of that inning. The Royals loaded the bases, and Trey McManama smacked a grand slam home run into left field. Bucher (who hit a lead-off double), Hoog and Cole all scored. Southeastern led 9-2, but Avon put up eight runs in the fifth inning to take the lead and held it from there.

Bucher had two hits. Dylan Cope pitched four innings, striking out four.

The Royals are 0-6 in HCC play and 4-10 overall. Southeastern’s next game is Saturday morning at Lapel.