WINNEMUCCA - If you looked at the scoreboard at the end of Tuesday's game in Winnemucca, it showed the Lowry High School varsity baseball team beating Pershing County 10-0.
However, LHS head coach Ron Espinola thought his team could have played better in its home debut.
"Defensively and pitching wise we were fine," Espinola said. "We were undisciplined at the plate and did not make the adjustments we needed to. We just have to clean up our overall game. I would have liked us to have been a little sharper."
With one out in the bottom of the first inning, Lowry put together five consecutive hits by Brandon Okuma, Tyler Brumm, Jesse Studebaker, Tanner Lecumberry and Michal Arenas. Studebaker, Lecumberry and Arenas had RBIs in the frame to put the Buckaroos up 4-0.
Daniel Pollock led off the bottom of the second inning and was driven in by Okuma for a 5-0 advantage. Lecumberry's second hit in as many innings plated Okuma to push the lead to 6-0.
Lowry (4-5 overall, 3-0 Ruby Mountain League) ended the game in the fifth on the 10-run rule with four more runs. Studebaker was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and he advanced to third on a passed ball. Dusty Bryan followed with a base hit to score Studebaker and Christian Dawson was walked. With runners on first and second base, Tytin Johnson hit a line drive to right field that resulted in a triple. Johnson scored the game-ending run when the ball got passed the third baseman.
Studebaker, Bryan, Okuma and Johnson all saw time on the mound for the Buckaroos. Pershing County had just two hits in the game.
"We wanted to get some of those guys on the mound," added the coach. "None of those guys had the opportunity to throw in Ely because the games were so short. We need that to keep those guys sharp."
With the pod system ending this year, Lowry made its final trip to Ely as member of the Ruby Mountain League to play White Pine. The Buckaroos had little trouble with the Bobcats, sweeping a doubleheader 13-0 and 25-6 on Friday, March 15. Lowry completed the sweep on Saturday, winning 13-0.
In the series opener, Lowry scored the only run it would need in the top of the first by Okuma. The junior reached base on a fielder's choice and eventually scored on a passed ball.
The Buckaroos tacked on two more runs in the third inning, when Connors doubled home Pollock, who led off the frame with by getting hit by a pitch. Connors came around to score on a groundout by Okuma.
Lowry broke the game open in the fourth as it sent 14 batters to the plate in a nine-run inning. Lecumberry had a three-RBI double, and Connors and Johnson each had RBI doubles as part of the big inning.
Matt Wells provided the final run of the game with a ground out that scored Jalen Formby. Connors led Lowry with three hits and Studebaker added two.
Aaron Nelson earned the win as he allowed one hit, while striking out five in four innings of work. Dawson pitched the final inning, giving up one hit. He struck out two and walked two.
In the nightcap, Lowry took advantage of 14 walks by White Pine pitchers in the 19-run victory. Brumm and Studebaker had six and five RBIs, respectively, for the Buckaroos.
Lowry scored three runs in the first inning and five more in the second to lead 8-2. After scoring two more times in the third, the Buckaroos blew the game open in the fourth inning by sending 18 batters to the plate and scoring 12 runs.
Brumm and Studebaker each had four hits in the victory, while Formby earned the win on the pitching mound. He allowed five runs (one earned) in three innings of work. He struck out six and walked four. Lecumberry finished the final two innings, giving up one run (none earned) on one hit.
Lowry closed out the series with another shutout behind a stellar pitching performance by Brumm. The senior threw a complete game and gave up four hits. He struck out six and walked two.
The Buckaroos scored twice in the first inning and added four runs in the fourth on the strength of a two-RBI single by Studebaker. Arenas added a two-RBI double in the fourth and Troy Hardy and Formby each had base hits to score runs in the six-run inning that made the score 12-0.
Lowry travels to Spring Creek and Elko this weekend for crossover games with Dayton, Churchill County and Fernley. The Buckaroos play Dayton today at 3:30 p.m. Lowry faces Churchill County and Fernley on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.
"We will find out where we stack up with the rest of the league," Espinola said. "These are the games you have to win to set you up for a good spot in the postseason."
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