Labette Scores Four Runs in 9th Inning to Edge Cloud County, Force Winner-Take-All Game Three

The Labette Community College baseball team scored four runs on one hit in the ninth inning as the Cardinals overcame a 4-2 deficit to defeat the Cloud County T-Birds 6-5 on Thursday, May 8 to force a winner take all game three in the best-of-three opening round NJCAA Region 6 Plains District Baseball Tournament series at Lee Doyen Field in Concordia.

The T-Birds won the first game in the series, 15-6, in nine innings on Wednesday, May 7.

Both games in the series featured long inclement weather delays. The first game on Wednesday was paused for two hours and 34 minutes due to a lightning delay, while game two on Thursday had a two-hour and nine-minute delay in the bottom of the sixth inning due to lightning in the area.

Labette jumped out to an early 2-0 lead following a two-run home run to left field by sophomore Nick Dunn in the bottom of the second inning.

Cloud County left six runners on base through the first five innings.

Sophomore catcher Cam Macleod got the T-Bird offense going in the bottom of the sixth inning when he tallied a one-out single to left field. After freshman Lucas Laukkanen reached on an error, freshman Kaden Budke delivered an RBI single to left, driving in Macleod for the team's first run of the game.

Labette freshman pitcher Evan McDaniel then walked sophomore Austin Coyle to load the bases. A ground ball by sophomore Gannon White scored Laukkanen to tie the game at 2-all.

Play was then suspended when lightning was detected in the area.

Once the game was allowed to resume, redshirt sophomore Connor Brady took over on the mound. Brady walked sophomore Noah Konings to once again load the bases. Redshirt freshman Matthew Evans followed with an infield single to score Budke, giving Cloud County a 3-2 advantage.

Brady managed to get out of the bases-loaded situation by getting sophomore Nolan Freund to fly out to end the inning.

The T-Birds added a run in the bottom of the seventh when Macleod reached after being hit by a pitch before scoring on an RBI single to left by Budke.

Freshman pitcher Stocton Timbrook, pitching in relief, allowed only one hit in the seventh and retired Labette in order in the eighth inning.

After Cloud County failed to add to its run total in the eighth, Labette redshirt freshman Ryan Vann was hit by a pitch to start the ninth. Dunn then drew a walk before both Vann and Dunn were moved into scoring position off a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Brodie Russell. Timbrook then walked sophomore Branden Floyd to load the bases with one out.

Following a pitching change, redshirt freshman Hayden Malaise faced just one batter, walking freshman David Daigle to score pinch-runner Hudson Henagan for the first run of the ninth inning.

Freshman Cohen Nelson was then called on to pitch with the bases loaded in a one-run game. Nelson walked the first batter he faced, sophomore Gabriel Viera, allowing Dunn to score, tying the game at 4-all.

Freshman Francisco Feliciano-Gonzalez followed with the only hit of the inning, bringing home Floyd on an RBI single to right field to put Labette back in front at 5-4.

The Cardinals capped their ninth inning with sophomore Tray Freeman reaching on a fielder's choice to score Daigle to make it 6-4.

The T-Birds made a late surge of their own when Macleod was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom half of the ninth. After Laukkanen flew out to left field, Budke drew a one-out walk to put the game-tying run at first base.

Redshirt freshman David Simmons would pinch-run for Budke.

An infield ground out by sophomore Austin Coyle moved both Macleod and Simmons into scoring position. Macleod soon raced home on a passed ball to make it a one-run game at 6-5.

But with Simmons representing the tying run at third base, Brady was able to strike out sophomore Gannon White to end the game.

Cloud County outhit Labette 12 to 6, but the T-Birds stranded 13 guys in the loss. Evans went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and one RBI. Budke went 2-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI. Macleod finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Konings also had two hits.

Timbrook took the loss after allowing three earned runs on one hit in 2.1 innings. Timbrook walked two batters and hit another with a pitch while finishing with just one strikeout.

Sophomore Caden Marcum started the game for Cloud County. Marcum threw the first six innings, giving up two earned runs on three hits with one walk and six strikeouts.

The T-Birds and the Cardinals will play the final game in their best-of-three series on Friday, May 9, at 2 pm at Lee Doyen Field in Concordia. The game will be streamed free of charge on the T-Bird Sports Network. Fans can also listen to the game on 1390 KNCK and 98.3 FM, with Austin McNorton calling the action.