Hays Post Sports
SALINA – The third-ranked TMP-Marian baseball team had the lead in both games of their doubleheader at rival Sacred Heart Monday, but the Monarchs had to settle for the split winning game one 8-4 and losing the second contest 5-4, which snapped their five-game win streak.
The Monarchs are now 17-3 on the season. The Knights are 16-6. TMP will play Hays High in the opening game of the Western Plains Diamond Classic Thursday at 7 p.m. at Larks Park.
Game 1: TMP-Marian 8, Sacred Heart 4
The Monarchs scored two in the first, two in the third and one in the fourth to
build a 5-0 lead. Caden Dinkel and Grant Nehls both had RBI singles in the
first. Ty Schmeidler drove in the first run in the third with a single. Trevor Fabrizius
knocked in the second with a bases loaded walk.
Dinkel drove in Ian Nehls with a sacrifice fly to put the Monarchs up 5-0 in the fourth.
The Knights would rally with two in the bottom of the fourth and two in the sixth to pull within a run but the Monarchs answered with three in the top of the seventh. Schmeidler led off the inning with a double then scored on Connor Breit’s single. Nehls then broke it open with a two-run triple.
Dinkel allowed two runs on fours with two strikeouts and three walks and picked up the win. Adler Brown allowed two unearned runs on one hit with a pair of strikeouts and walks in 2 2/3 innings of relief.
Ian Nehls, Grant Nehls and Ty Schmeidler all had two hits. Both Ian and Grant Nehls had a triple.
Game 2: Sacred Heart 5, TMP-Marian 4
Just like in game one, the Monarchs raced out to an early lead. The scored two
in the second and two in the third to go up 4-0. I Purinton drove in the first
run on base hit to right field. A second run scored on an error. Carson Liles had an
RBI triple and Ty Schmeidler an RBI double to make it 4-0 in the third.
The Knights came back with three in the third then took the lead with two in the fourth.
The Monarchs had two runners at second and third with two outs in the sixth but couldn’t score. They would get two on with one out in the seventh but hit into a double play to end the game.
Jacob Seib allowed two runs on three hits over four innings of relief and took the loss. Starting pitcher Grant Nehls gave up two runs on one hits with four walks and three strikeouts over two innings. Austin Gilbert allowed one run on one hit with two walks in relief and did not record an out.