Islanders Claims Two Wins Friday
(Lincoln, NE) - The Grand Island baseball team defeated Lincoln Northeast 4-0 on Friday as two pitchers combined to throw a shutout. Braedyn Towler and Blake Caspar each pitched for Grand Island in the game. Caspar induced a flyout from Marshawn Jefferson to get the last out.
Grand Island opened the scoring in the top of the first thanks to two singles. Grand Island got on the board when Ethan Mader singled, scoring one run.
A ground out by Sam Schroeder extended the Islanders lead to 3-0 in the top of the second inning.
Towler stepped on the mound first for GI. The hurler surrendered four hits and zero runs over six innings, striking out three and walking three. Ezekiel Arizola stepped on the hill first for Lincoln Northeast. The righty allowed 10 hits and four runs (three earned) over five innings, striking out two and walking one. Caspar threw one inning of zero-run ball for GI in relief. The reliever surrendered zero hits, striking out one and walking one.
GISH amassed 12 hits in the game. Gavin Ruether went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead Grand Island in hits. Brody Davidson and Ian Arends each collected multiple hits for GISH. The Islanders were sure-handed and didn't commit a single error. Gabe Ruiz made the most plays with seven.
Tyler Anderson, Ashton Clough, Jefferson, and Hunter Neukirch each collected one hit for Lincoln Northeast Varsity Rockets. Lincoln Northeast Varsity Rockets turned three double plays in the game.
In game two of the day. Grand Island snatched the lead late in their 2-1 victory over Papillion-LaVista South on Friday. The game was tied at one in the top of the sixth when Gabe Ruiz doubled, scoring one run.
Both teams were strong on the bump. Grand Island pitchers struck out eight, while Papillion-LaVista South sat down 11.
A single by Tyler Andringa put Papillion-LaVista South on the board in the bottom of the second.
Grand Island took the lead, 2-1, in the top of the sixth thanks to doubles by Grayson Sack and Ruiz.
Brock Cushing earned the win for Grand Island. The hurler surrendered two hits and one run over seven innings, striking out eight and walking three. Matthew Gorman took the loss for Papillion-LaVista South. The hurler went six innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits, striking out 11 and walking two.
Sack and Ruiz were tough to handle back-to-back in the lineup, as each drove in one run for Grand Island.
Andringa and Donnie Rosenthal were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected one hit for Papillion-LaVista South. Andringa went 1-for-3 at the plate and led the team with one run batted in.
GISH is now 9-4 on the season. Grand Island won on Thursday over Norfolk at Ashley Park by a final score of 8-6. Next up will be the Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament on Tuesday, April 14th, and Wednesday, April 15th.