OSAWATOMIE — The Humboldt Cubs built a bit of momentum before Thursday’s regional tournament opener while splitting Friday’s non-league doubleheader with the Osawatomie Trojans.
After falling 12-5 in the opener, the Cubs rebounded with an 8-6 victory in extra innings to wrap up the nightcap.
They improved their record to 13-11 ahead of the postseason opener against Central Burden.
Junior pitcher Gavin Gunderman took the 12-5 loss in the opener while tallying three strikeouts and
allowing 11 runs on 11 hits and a walk. Many of those runs may have been due to a trio of untimely errors by the Cubs. The Trojans scored five unanswered runs in the sixth inning to take the contest.
The Cubs took advantage of Osawatomie’s early mistakes as Gunderman lit up the scoreboard for the first time after reaching home on a wild pitch, then sophomore third baseman Ty Shaughnessy reached home in the same fashion moments later.
The Trojans answered with three unanswered runs in the first and second innings, then sophomore designated hitter Kolton Hanson tied the game with an RBI grounder in the third. The teams traded blows until the sixth inning.
An RBI grounded by senior outfielder Grady Elder pulled Humboldt within a run in the fourth inning, then a fly ball by freshman shortstop Mason Miller pulled Humboldt within a run in the fifth inning, but that was as close as they would get as the Trojans pulled away.
Elder, Miller and Hanson tied for the team lead in RBIs with one each. Shaughnessy was the lead hitter while successful in 2 of 3 at-bats.
In the nightcap, the bottom of the Cub lineup stepped up for the 8-6 victory.
Elder started on the mound, tallying five strikeouts over five innings while allowing five runs on two hits and five walks. Miller came on in relief, guiding Humboldt through extra innings while tallying six strikeouts over four innings, allowing one run one hit and two walks.
Senior outfielder Hayden Kelley had a breakout performance while successful in 3 of 5 at-bats with a team leading three RBIs. His first came on a two-RBI double to put Humboldt on the scoreboard in the second inning. Gunderman extended their lead with an RBI single to drive in Kelley, then senior second baseman Mason Sterling’s RBI single pushed the Cubs lead to 4-0.
By the fourth inning, the Cubs had a 6-2 lead, only to have their bats go silent as the Trojans rallied to a 6-6 tie by the seventh inning.
After going scoreless in the eighth, Kelley struck again with an RBI single to give Humboldt a 7-6 lead, then Gunderman made it 8-6 with an RBI single. Looking to close out the contest, Miller opened the soon-to-be final inning with a pair of strikeouts before forcing a pop out to secure the victory.
Junior outfielder Luke Coronado, Kelley and Gunderman tied for the team lead in hits with three each. Gunderman was second in RBIs with two followed by Sterling with one.
With the win, Humboldt finishes the regular season with a 13-11 record. They enter the regional tournament as the fifth seed and host 12th-seed Burden Central (6-16) Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
