Last Rap Hornets Steal Two from Skyline

Sometimes, it doesn’t much matter how you do it. You just need to find a way to get the “W.”

The Saline varsity baseball team scratched out two, dramatic, come-from-behind wins against Skyline Thursday at Saline High School. The Hornets scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to win the opener, 2-1, and twice in the bottom of the seventh in the nightcap, to win 3-2.

The Hornets improved to 7-1 in the SEC.

The Hornets managed just eight hits in the two games. But the Hornet hurlers and fielders were up to the task. Saline pitchers gave up just five hits and the defense made no errors, giving the Hornets a chance to come back and scratch out the wins.

“Our defense was outstanding and our pitching was very good. Sometimes when you don’t hit, you’ve got to do the other things. Fortunately we did that in two games and then we were able to get the big hit,” said Saline coach Scott Theisen.

In the opener, Justin Goike scattered five hits and four walks, striking out six hitters in a seven-inning performance.

The game was tied at 0 in the sixth when Skyline finally got on board. Jack Clark doubled to lead off and took third on a sacrifice bunt by Nick Sponseller. Connor Voss flew out to center, allowing Clark to tag up and score.

Saline came back in the bottom of the seventh. Andrew Valentine led off and was hit by a pitch. Courtesy runner Brandon Gordon advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Patrick Price. Gage Hammond followed with a triple to score Gordon. Justin Barnes, hitting for Stefan Hastings, ended the game when he laid down a bunt and squeezed home Hammond.

Hastings and Andrew White also had hits for Saline.

The second game was more of the same. Both teams were hitless into the fourth when Saline finally put a run on the scoreboard — without a hit.

White walked to lead off. Goike followed with a fielder’s choice to short. White was out at second, but the throw to first was wild, and Goike advanced to second. Goike advanced to third on a passed ball and then scored on another passed ball.

Skyline took the lead in the fifth. Connor Voss singled to lead off. Patrick Lewis doubled to put runners at second and third.  Voss scored and Lewis advanced to third on a grounder to short. Lewis came in on Jacob Graff’s single. The Hornets couldn’t buy a run. In the sixth, Hastings hit a sharp liner right at the centerfielder. Goike ripped a two-out double to right center, but the Hornets couldn’t bring him in.

Down to last raps in the bottom of the seventh and losing 2-1, the Hornets went to work on relief pitcher Bend Sadis. Andrew Valentine led off with a double. Trent Theisen bunted courtesy runner Matt Soper over to third to third. Barnes battled back from a 1-2 count and walked to put runners on the corners. The Hornets looked like they were in trouble when AJ Korzuck struck out for the second out. Hammond saved the day and hit a soft liner between second to score Soper. Coach Theisen put up the stop sign for Barnes, who was rounding second.

“I didn’t see it. I just kept running,” Barnes said.

As he slid into third, the ball bounced beyond the third basement.
“I heard coach Theisen yell to get up and go, so I did,” Barnes said.

He barreled down the third basement and slid past the catcher as the throw from short left went over the catcher. Barnes missed the plate. Soper, still there, yelled to Barnes to tag home. He did as the Hornets spilled from the dugout to celebrate the victory.

“These weren’t easy games. But they were fun,” Barnes said.