Conqs split with Pratt

Pratt, KS (3/23/10)- The Conquistador baseball team split the final two games of a four game series with Pratt CC.  The Conqs took game one 5-3 while Pratt rallied to take the nightcap in a shootout 17-16.

Game One - The Conqs once again jumped out to a quick lead on Pratt.  Cole Skriver once again homered in his first at bat to give the Conqs a 1-0 lead after one inning. The Conqs would add another run in the top of the third on a Rudy Krist RBI single.   Starting pitcher Sean Dalton would give up two runs in the bottom half of the third, one on an RBI single and the second on a double steal.  The Conqs would break the tie in the top of the sixth on a Zack Zdanowicz double to left field that scored Rick Lesperance.  A Scott Hughes RBI single in the top of the seventh would give the Conqs their final run of the game.  After going six innings on the mound, Dalton gave way to reliever Dan Talley with a runner on second.  Talley would induce three ground ball outs to give the Conqs a 5-3 victory.  Dalton improved his record to 3-2 and Talley picked up his second save of the season.

Game Two - As had been the case in the three previous games, the Conqs once again scored early via the long ball.  Rudy Krist hit a three run shot to right center to give the Conqs an early 3-0 lead.  The lead would not last long as the Beavers responded with three runs in the bottom of the 1st to tie the game 3-3.  The Conqs would regain the lead in the top of the second as they scored four runs to take a 7-3 lead.  The lead would once again be short lived.  Starter Zane Watkins would not make it through the second inning as the Beavers exploded for a seven run inning to take 10-7 lead and was relieved by Kevin Kimball.

The Conqs would chip away at the lead in the top of the fifth. A Mitch Corwin lead off home run and Seth Means RBI double would make it a 10-9 game. After holding the Beavers scoreless in the bottom half of the fifth, the Conqs would then retake the lead in top of the sixth.  Corwin's two-run home run and an run aided by a Beaver error would give the Conqs the 12-10 lead.  But as was the case early in the ball game, the Beavers responded. The Conqs surrendered five runs to give the lead back to the Pratt.

The Conqs would respond with two runs in the top of the seventh inning on a Mike Schnedar single to make it a one run game.  Pratt would add a single run in the bottom of the eighth to extend their lead to 16-14 heading into the final inning. In the top of the ninth, the Conqs would tie up the ball game up at 16-16 on RBI singles by Rudy Krist and Scott Hughes.  But the Beavers would capitalize on a hit batter in the bottom of the ninth.  Reliver Chance Hill would give up a game winning RBI single in the ninth to lose 17-16.

With the split, the Conqs move to 10-10 overall and 6-6 in the Jayhawk Conference.  The Conquistadors will next be in action on March 27-28 as they play host to Seward County.  First pitch is set for 1:05 PM on both days.

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score