Grand Island Finishes HAC Tournament Runner-Up

(Lincoln, NE) - (Game One/Semi Finals) - Grayson Sack collected five hits in five at-bats, as Grand Island defeated Lincoln Southwest 11-7 on Wednesday. Sack doubled in the first inning, doubled in the fourth inning, singled in the third inning, and singled in the sixth inning.

Grand Island got on the board in the top of the first inning after Sack doubled down the right field line, and Ethan Mader singled down the left field line, each scoring one run.

A single by Mader extended the Grand Island lead to 3-0 in the top of the third inning.

Grand Island scored six runs on five hits in the top of the sixth inning. Gabe Ruiz doubled, scoring three runs, Mader singled, scoring one run, Gavin Ruether doubled, scoring one run, and Brock Cushing singled, scoring one run.

Lincoln Southwest scored five runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth inning. Caison Seymore scored after tagging up, Grady Vernon singled, scoring one run, Brennan Vernon doubled, scoring one run, and Luke Mitchell doubled, scoring two runs.

Blake Caspar earned the win for Grand Island. The pitcher surrendered two hits and two runs over three and two-thirds innings, striking out two and walking three. Andrew Jackson took the loss for Lincoln Southwest. The pitcher went three and two-thirds innings, allowing five runs on 10 hits, striking out three and walking none. Cushing pitched one inning of shutout ball for Grand Island in relief. The reliever surrendered zero hits, striking out none and walking one.

Grand Island tallied 17 hits in the game. Mader and Ruiz were tough to handle back-to-back in the lineup, as each drove in three runs for Grand Island. Ruether and Cushing each collected multiple hits for Grand Island.

Joaquin Olivas, Vernon, Jaxon Pieper, Mitchell, Brady Hanus, and Vernon each collected one hit for Lincoln Southwest. Mitchell and Hanus each drove in two runs for Lincoln Southwest.

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(Lincoln, NE) - (Game Two/Championship) - Grand Island watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover in a 1-0 loss to Lincoln Easton on Wednesday. Lincoln East first took the lead in the second inning when Bradyn Erickson singled, scoring one run.

The pitching was strong on both sides. Lincoln Eastpitchers struck out 10, while Grand Island sat down eight.

Greyson Bjorkman earned the win for Lincoln East Spartans Varsity. The right-handed pitcher gave up one hit and zero runs over five innings, striking out five and walking none. Miles Nelson took the loss for Grand Island. The hurler went five and one-third innings, giving up one run (zero earned) on four hits, striking out eight and walking two.

Gavin Ruether led Grand Island with one hit in two at-bats. Grand Island turned one double play in the game.

Erickson went 2-for-3 at the plate and led the team with one run batted in. Lincoln East didn't commit a single error in the field. Erickson had the most chances in the field with 10.

Grand Island will travel to Fremont for its next game on Friday. The Islanders are now 11-5 on the season.