A/C grabs first win

Continued from page 19 plate, going 2-for-2 with a double, two runs scored, two walks and an RBI. Arturo Lopez drew three walks while going l-for-2 with five RBIs, Folz was 1-for-l with three walks, two runs scored and one RBI, and Hector Lopez had one hit in two at-bats, drawing two walks and scoring two runs while batting in one run.

Abby/Colby was also aggressive on the basepaths, putting pressure on the Cardinals defense. They swiped 12 bases on Friday, with Folz and Arturo Lopez stealing four each, Hamus taking two and Hector Lopez and Javier Rivera both snagging one.

Merrill, 11-0

The Merrill Bluejays took control early and stayed ahead, holding Abby/Colby hitless through five innings and dealing the co-op an 11 -0 loss last Thursday.

For the second game in a row, Abby/Colby’s offense struggled to find its footing. Going up against the Bluejays pitchers Carter Kaminski and Cooper Wendorf, the visiting co-op lineup failed to generate much of a threat. Walks by Fernando Perez and Carson Folz and a hit-bypitch pass garnered by Arturo Lopez were Abby/Colby’s only baserunners as the pair of Merrill pitchers held the co-op in check, striking out seven batters in the five-inning contest.

Abby/Colby held the Bluejays to just one run in the first inning, but errors began to add up in the second and third innings. Merrill scored four runs in both frames, solidifying their hold over the contest. After adding another two runs in the bottom of the fourth and holding the co-op scoreless in the top of the fifth, the home team was able to end the game early by holding a double-digit lead past the fifth.

Arturo Lopez and Adrian Capetillo were on the mound for the visiting co-op on Thursday While Lopez surrendered nine runs in his two-and-a-third innings of work, only four of those runs were earned. He allowed six hits and four walks while striking out two. Adrian Capetillo pitched an inning-and-two-thirds, giving up two runs, one of which was earned, on one hit and two walks.

BRICK WALL - Jaxston Malzahn scoops a pitch out of the dirt to prevent a run from scoring against the Cardinals.

STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD

SLIDING IN UNDER THE TAG - Arturo Lopez sneaks into third base on a close play during the co-op’s win over Newman Catholic. staffphoto/nathaniel underwood