Indians sweep Trojans in Friday doubleheader

The McCook Community College baseball team took a pair of Empire League games Friday at home, sweeping Trinidad State 12-2 and 15-6.

In Game 1, New Zealand left-hander Tait Anderson (freshman from Auckland) picked up a complete-game win on the mound in six innings as MCC scored 10 unanswered runs after trailing 2-0 in the second inning. Sophomore Nathan Hutchison (Rawlins, Wyo.) had three hits and a pair of two-out RBIs to lead the offense.

Sophomore Myles Chabi (Sydney, Australia) was scheduled to start the game for MCC but illness forced him to miss the starting assignment.

“It was a good day for us today,” said MCC Coach Jon Olsen. “We had to kind of scramble a bit with Chabi out sick, but Tait answered the bell and threw a great game to get the weekend off to a good start.”

The Indians broke up a 6-6 tie in Game 2 scoring six runs and added three more in the eighth to secure the sweep.

“Game 2 we just kind of played good enough to stay in it until late,” said Olsen.

The fifth, sixth and seventh-place hitters in the lineup combined for six hits and 11 RBIs. The trio included freshmen Chase Williams (Brampton, Ontario), Tyler Reyburn (Frederick, Colo.) and sophomore Owen Glover (Elderslie, New South Wales). Sophomore Jean Duran (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) pitched the final four innings of shutout ball to pick up the win in relief.

With the two losses Trinidad State falls to 4-14 in the Empire League standings (Region IX) and 12-20 on the season.

MCC improves to 8-10 in the standings and 20-23 overall.

“It was good to get both on this first day, hopefully we can get after it again tomorrow,” said Olsen.

The teams will conclude the four-game series Saturday at the Jaycees Sports Complex with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.

For all the latest information about MCC baseball including schedule and schedule changes, livestream links, statistics, rosters, photos and more please visit the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com 

GAME 1 – McCook 12, Trinidad State 2: Trinidad scored a pair of first-inning runs but MCC was able to reclaim the lead for good in the second 3-2 on singles by Chase Williams and sophomore Owen Glover, an RBI-double by freshman Mason Regan (Centennial, Colo.), a sacrifice fly by Landon McKillip (freshman, Lamoni, Iowa) and a two-out RBI-single by Nathan Hutchison.

Cory Wouters led off the third with a solo-home run to ignite the Indian offense. After back-to-back walks, Tyler Reyburn laid down a bunt that was mishandled by the TSC catcher and two more runs came home. Regan singled home Reyburn and with two outs Hutchison singled in Regan to put MCC up 8-2.

The Indians added two more in the fourth as freshman Dalton Berg (Frederick, Colo.) led off with a walk, Williams and Reyburn singled. Berg scored on a doubleplay ball and Williams scored on an RBI-groundout by Regan to make it a 10-2 game.

McKillip was hit by a pitch leading off the MCC fifth, Hutchison and Smith followed with singles, Wouters hit a sacrifice fly and in the sixth, the Indians ended the game on the 10-run rule when Regan was hit by a pitch, went to second on McKillip’s single and on to third on the throw from the outfield and scored on a passed ball.

Anderson allowed two earned runs on six hits, no walks and five strikeouts.

“I think Trinidad had like six hits in the first two innings then I don’t think Tait gave up another hit,” said Olsen. “We did a good job of scoring every inning after the first, thought we played well.” 

Hutchison led MCC with three hits, Wouters and Regan both had two-hit games.

GAME 2 – McCook 15, Trinidad State 6: After the Trojans scored a run in the first, MCC reclaimed the lead 2-1 in the bottom of the inning. Freshman Carter Smith (Ottawa, Canada) and Dalton Berg both singled and Chase Williams was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Tyler Reyburn, who singled in Smith while Berg scored on the throw.

Trinidad State tied the game 2-2 in the third, but MCC scored three runs in the bottom of the inning. Cory Wouters was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Williams singled and Reyburn reached on an error to lead the bases for Owen Glover who singled in Wouters. Regan was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Landon McKillip drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to put MCC up 5-2.

The Trojans got a run closer with an unearned run in the fourth and took a 6-5 lead with a pair of runs in the fifth. MCC tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff walk by Glover, Regan was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced a base on botched pickoff attempt at second base and McKillip tied the game 6-6 with a sacrifice bunt scoring Glover.

Freshman Landon Molloy (Parker, Colo.) pitched five innings and allowed four earned runs on 10 hits, one walk and eight strikeouts.

“We didn’t execute on some opportunities early and made a defensive mistake that cost us a couple runs but Molloy kept us in it until we had the big six-run inning,” said Olsen.

Smith started the MCC rally in the seventh with a leadoff double. After a Wouters, walk and a Berg single, Williams was hit by a pitch to give MCC a 7-6 lead.

“We had great back-to-back at bats in that inning,” said Olsen. “CJ had the at bat of the day with the bases loaded. He fouled off three pitches then got hit to put us up for good, Tyler followed with a huge double.”

Reyburn doubled in two runs and Glover singled in two more before McKillip delivered a two-out RBI single and a 12-6 MCC lead.

Smith singled to lead off the eighth and after a pair of walks loaded the bases, MCC scored on a Trinidad error and a sacrifice fly by Reyburn for the final score.

Duran went four innings, allowed one hit (to the first batter he faced), walked one and struck out five to pick up the win in relief.

MCC had 14 hits with three by Smith and two each by Berg, Williams, Reburn and Glover. Williams had three RBIs, Reyburn five and Glover three. McKillip also drove in three for MCC.