HUMBOLDT — After falling to the Chanute Comets 7-3 Wednesday night, the Humboldt Cubs didn’t have much time to mull over the loss, hosting Fredonia Thursday evening in a doubleheader. (Results were not available before press time.)
Humboldt coach Mike Miller said he strategically utilized his pitchers against Chanute to preserve them for Thursday’s contest, especially after Tuesday’s two games against Bluestem.
“We competed hard, have two league games tomorrow and had two tonight,” Miller said. “We were trying to keep it a bullpen game, so we can have everybody available to pitch tomorrow (Thursday), too.”
The 2A Cubs played catch-up for the majority of Wednesday’s non-league contest after the 4A Comets scored four unanswered runs in the first two innings. An RBI in the third inning by freshman out fielder Mason Miller put Humboldt on the scoreboard. 
In the fifth inning, an RBI single from third baseman Ty Shaughnessy got Humboldt on the board. Shaughnessy also came on in relief for a team-leading three strikeouts. Senior pitcher Grady Elder drove in fellow senior Mason Sterling for Humboldt’s final run of the evening in the seventh inning, but it was well short of the Cubs’ intended mark.
“We had good bats all game, they just didn’t come up when we needed them,” Miller said.
Elder took the loss after tallying one strikeout while allowing three runs on four hits over 1 2/3 innings. Wrestler saw the most time on the mound with 2 1/3 innings pitch, two strikeouts and allowed three runs on two hits and two walks.
“Games like that are hard and when someone is effective, and doing their job, you want to keep them in there,” Miller said.
“The most important game is our league game. Our pitchers did a great job, they kept us in the ballgame.”
Sterling, and Elder tied for the team lead in hits with two each. Shaughnessy, Miller and Elder tied for the team lead in RBIs with one each.
With the loss, the Cubs’ record fell to 3-4 overall.
