The Medicine Hat Moose Monarchs rallied to split their AA American Legion Baseball doubleheader with a late extra-inning victory over the Bucks on Thursday in Bozeman.
After falling 8-2 to open the set, the Monarchs rallied to close out the night with a 15-14 victory despite blowing an early seven-run and having to bounce back to force an extra frame.
Reese Whelen plated the winning run on a sacrifice fly in the eighth, then Joel Herron shut down the Bucks in the home half of the inning to collect the win.
Brandon Hauck and Reese Whelen both had 3 RBI, while Drew Niwa had 2. Niwa, Whelen, Wyatt Study and Wyatt Bergen all logged two hits in the win.
The Monarchs were held to seven hits in the opener, with no one logging a multiple-hit game.
Hauck and Niwa got the offence rolling early with an RBI single and an RBI fielder’s choice, respectively, but the Bucks replied with four-spots in the third and sixth to secure the victory.
Whelen settled for the loss despite posting a complete six-inning performance, holding Bozeman to eight runs – but only one earned – on six hits and three walks while fanning three.
The Monarchs and Bucks return to the field for another matchup in Bozeman today at noon.
Knights drop opener
The Medicine Hat K of C Knights kicked off their A American Legion Baseball doubleheader against the Spurs with a 15-5 loss on Thursday in Vauxhall.
Ben Van Der Sloot and Evan Morrison both had 2 RBI in the loss, with Morrison picking up his team’s only multiple-hit game in a 2-for-3 effort.
Morrison also took the loss after starting the game and allowing nine runs – four earned – on four hits and six walks through the first 1 1/3.
Vauxhall jumped to a 9-0 lead over the first two innings. While Medicine Hat responded with one in the third, three in the fourth and another in the fifth, the Spurs kept the pedal down to secure the mercy-rule victory in five innings.
The second half of the doubleheader did not conclude by press time.
The Knights will be in Williston for a tournament this weekend.
