By: Matt Scher, matts@977thebolt.com
Webster City, IA – The Humboldt Wildcats baseball team won big 13-2 in seven innings over Webster City in the only game played in a scheduled road North Central Conference doubleheader against the Lynx. The second game being postponed to Wednesday due to a line of storms moving into the area.
After each team failed to score any runs in the first inning, Humboldt opened the game wide open with a seven run second inning that saw 13 Wildcats come to the plate. Humboldt would add three more runs in the fifth inning to take a 10-0 lead into the bottom half of the fifth. The Lynx down to their final strike looking to avoid the 10-run mercy rule got a two out two strike RBI single by Matthew Tesdahl to scratch across their first run. The Lynx would add another run in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to eight before Humboldt added three runs in the top of the seventh to increase their lead to 13-2. Webster City would get the lead-off man on, but the next three hitters were retired in order to end the game.
On the mound, Chase Hansen would start the game pitching the first 5.2 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits with two walks, one hit batter and seven strikeouts, earning the win. Griffin Groat relieved Hansen for the final 1.1 innings, allowing no runs and no hits with one walk and one strikeout.
Offensively for Humboldt, Coen Matson had a 2-4 night with a pair of RBI doubles, Keegan Groat was 2-5, Jackson Flaherty was 2-4 with an RBI, Isaiah Busick had a 2 RBI night along with Griffin Groat. Also recording RBIs were Mason Van Pelt, Chase Flaherty, and Avion Sutterfield.
Humboldt Head Baseball Coach Jason Thurm on the win.
The Wildcats improved to 15-4 on the season and 7-2 NCC, currently second behind Algona. Humboldt is on the road against 4A non-conference Fort Dodge Tonight.
First pitch from Fort Dodge is slated for 7 p.m. Humboldt will resume NCC play Wednesday at home against Webster City, a makeup of Monday’s second game of the doubleheader.