SPARKS — After getting off to a winless start at the Mike Bearman Tournament in Reno to open the season, the Lowry High School baseball team bounced back in a big way with a pair of wins this past weekend on the road.
The Buckaroos picked up their first victories of the season, starting with a come-from-behind 6-4 win in eight innings on Friday afternoon at Wooster High School.
The Buckaroos fell behind 3-0 after four innings, but tied the game in the fifth, before scoring the winning runs in the eighth.
Lowry loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first inning, but did not score after the frame ended as Wooster turned a 1-2-3 double play.
Wooster got on the scoreboard with a single run in the second inning and extended its lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Buckaroos tied the game in the top of the fifth inning on the strength of a double by Zach Fernandez. The senior was 3-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored. He was also hit by a pitch.
The Colts strung together two hits in the bottom of the fifth inning to retake the lead at 4-3.
With two outs in the top of the sixth inning, sophomore Anthony Guzman tripled to keep the frame alive. Moments later, a single by Fernandez found a spot in the outfield and the Buckaroos tied the game at 4-4.
After both teams went scoreless in the seventh inning, Lowry rallied for a pair of runs in the eighth inning. Kasyn Garner singled with one out and later scored off a flyball hit by Fernandez that got past the Wooster outfield.
After a base hit by sophomore Brayden Dennis, Fernandez scored on a wild pitch to give Lowry a 6-4 lead.
Kaiden Boyles finished off the seventh inning on the mound for the Buckaroos to earn the win. Boyles pitched the final four innings and allowed three hits and one run. Boyles struck out six and walked one.
Marcus Montes started for Lowry and received a no decision. In his four innings of work, he gave up three runs (two earned) on one hit. He struck out 11 and walked seven.
Garners collected two hits and scored two runs for the Buckaroos and Montes, Boyles, Dennis and Guzman each had one hit.
Lowry 12,
Sparks 10
Lowry completed its perfect weekend on Saturday with a 12-10 win over Sparks. The Railroaders did not go down easily, trailing 12-3 in the fifth inning. Sparks scored three runs in the seventh inning to cut the gap to 12-10 and had the bases loaded with two outs. However, Boyles got a flyball to centerfield to end the contest and secure the victory.
Lowry led 4-0 after a three-run top of the third inning, but Sparks chopped that deficit in half after a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Each team scored single runs in the fourth inning, as Lowry led 5-3.
The Buckaroos broke the game open with seven runs in the fifth inning to lead 12-3 but did not score again. The Railroaders plated two runs apiece in the fifth and sixth innings to cut the deficit to 12-7.
Sparks’ rally continued into the seventh inning and despite having a run cut down at the plate after a ground ball to third base, the Railroaders sliced the gap to 12-10, but the rally ended with a fly ball to centerfield.
Adam Brook started for Lowry and got the win in four innings of work on the mound.
He allowed three runs (none earned) on two hits. He struck out six and walked none.
ReiCyan Grau and Dennis threw in the fifth and sixth innings and Boyles pitched the seventh and collected the save, a day after winning the game against Wooster.
Jordan Bills and Boyles each had two hits for Lowry. Boyles had three RBI and two runs scored. Garner and Dennis each had one hit.
Lowry (2-0 Northern 3A, 2-4 overall) hosts North Valleys on Friday at 3 p.m. and Hug on Saturday at 11 a.m.
