Baseball Picks Up Non-Conference Win at Hastings College

LAMONI - Yesterday, the Graceland University Baseball team picked up a non-conference win in a 9-inning contest against the Hastings College Broncos in Hastings, Nebraska. With the 11-8 win, Graceland improves to 5-11 overall on the season.

Graceland had three hits in the top of the first inning which led to two runs and gave the Yellowjackets a 2-0 lead through one. Hastings was able to get a run back in the bottom of the third to close the gap to 2-1.

After a scoreless 4th and 5th inning, the Yellowjackets exploded for eight runs in the top of the sixth inning to break the game open. Graceland batted around in the frame and six hits to help them gain a 10-1 lead. The Yellowjackets added one more in the top of the seventh, but Hastings battled back with five runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh.

Heading into the eighth inning, Graceland held on to an 11-6 lead on the road. Hastings held Graceland scoreless in the top of the eighth and scored two more to make it 11-8. The Yellowjackets held off the Broncos in the last inning to secure the three-run win.

Offensively, the Yellowjackets were led by Matt Reyes who had a 4-4 day including a triple and drove in three RBI. Ethan Balogh and Skyler Harris each added three hits apiece for Graceland as well. As a team, the Yellowjackets had 14 hits in the nine innings.

Aaron Hassell earned the start on the mound pitching the first two innings and did not allow any runs. Jorge Diaz got the win in relief for the Yellowjackets going 1.2 innings. Cameron Vodraska came in for the ninth inning to earn the save.