Considering the way the series started for the Lowry High School baseball team last weekend, the Buckaroos were content on how it ended on their rival's home field.
On March 28, Lowry watched Elko score seven times in the first inning en route to an 11-2 victory. The Indians claimed game one on Saturday 6-5 in eight innings, but the Buckaroos claimed the finale 10-8 to move to 4-2 in the Division I-A North and 4-7 overall.
"We just dug ourselves a huge hole in the opener," said LHS coach Ron Espinola. "Aaron (Nelson) had trouble finding the strike zone and when he got one in the zone, who knows what it will be called. That is very uncommon for Aaron. We did a little bit of everything wrong in the first inning."
Elko picked up just two hits in the opening frame, but took advantage of four walks and three errors. Lowry was still able to collect eight hits, but left eight runners on base, a theme that would persist throughout the weekend.
"You just can't put yourself in a hole like we did," Espinola said. "We were able to hit the ball, but when we needed that timely hit, it wasn't there. You can't leave the kids we did on base and expect to win. We need to force the action instead of waiting for something to happen."
Lowry cut the deficit to 7-2 with runs in the second and third innings, but got no closer. Calvin Connors drove in Tytin Johnson in the second and Johnson drove home Tanner Lecumberry in the third,
Connors relieved Nelson with two outs in the first inning and pitched into the fifth. Connors gave up four runs (two earned) on two hits. Colton Lacy, seeing his first action of the season, threw the final 1.2 innings. Connors also led the team with two hits.
"Calvin came in and threw good in relief," Espinola said. "Once we got out of that first inning we played pretty well. It was good to see Colton come in as well. That was the first time he has been on the field all season. He threw strikes and got the ball in play. Anytime you do that, you have a chance."
Saturday, Elko jumped out to a 2-0 lead in game one in the second inning, only to see Lowry tie the game in the top of the third off a triple by Brandon Okuma and a double from Christian Dawson.
The Indians countered with two more runs in the bottom of the third to increase the margin to 4-2. The advantage was cut in half in the top of the fourth inning, as Connors singled home Troy Hardy, who walked with two outs.
As soon as the Buckaroos closed the gap, the Indians were back on the board, using a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth to lead 5-3. Lowry came back to tie the game in the top of the seventh with a pair of runs. Dawson and Colin Doyle walked to begin the frame and they were knocked in by Johnson and Lecumberry.
Lowry put two runners on base in the eighth inning, but left them stranded, leading to Elko winning the game in the bottom of the eighth on a single to right field. The Buckaroos left 11 runners on base and it was their second walk-off loss of the season.
"We were 5-for-18 with runners in scoring position," Espinola said. "We out-hit Elko all weekend, but couldn't get one we needed it. The opportunity was there, we just didn't take advantage of it. We didn't get ourselves in very good counts."
Johnson received a no-decision in his five innings of work. He allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits. He struck out five and walked four. Doyle took the loss in 2.1 innings of work. He allowed one run and two hits.
"Both guys came out and threw the ball well," Espinola said. "Tytin has been very effective this year and finding the zone. For him that has been his biggest downfall in the last couple of years. It has taken a while to get that consistency. He has been good for us. I was pleased with Colin and the way he pitched. He gave us some quality innings."
After its second walk-off loss of the year, Lowry rebounded in the finale.
"We lost to Carson in a walk-off and didn't respond well at all in the next game against Douglas," Espinola said. "I was curious to see how we would respond this time. It was nice to see how we came back and played. It goes to show that the game-by-game approach works. We learned from the loss and that is a sign of a good team."
The Buckaroos scored single runs in each of the first three innings to go in front 3-1. Doyle, Lacy and Mickey Donovan each had base hits that scored runs in those innings.
Lowry added to the lead with two more runs in the fifth, which included an RBI by Dawson. That advantage went away, with Elko plating three runs in the fourth and two more in the sixth to go in front 6-5.
The Buckaroos bounced back in the top of the sixth inning, with five runs, which included a two RBI triple by Okuma. Dawson, Doyle and Hardy also had base hits that scored runs.
Lecumberry collected the win in six innings of work. He gave up eight runs (two earned) on six hits. He struck out four and walked two. Nelson earned the save.
"Tanner gave us a great outing," Espinola said. "Except for that first two/thirds of an inning, we threw threw ball great. Aaron was told after the Friday game and he would have another chance. He accepted the challenge and got us the save. That is the kind of mindset that kid has. He has a lot of maturity and that is senior leadership."[[In-content Ad]]
