By: Ari Wohl

The Spearfish Sasquatch (7-8) took three out of four against the Fremont Moo (7-6) and are now 7-4 since losing the first four games of the season against the Casper Spuds. The Sasquatch outscored the Moo 33-18 over the four-game set.

Game 1:

The opening game of the series needed 11 innings to decide a winner with Javier Marcial being the hero in the ninth for Spearfish.

The Sasquatch found themselves down to their final three outs in the top of the ninth inning, trailing 6-4. After Kyle Phin struck out, Seth Nelson popped a ball into left field and an error allowed the tying run to come to the plate. Ben Tate was the scheduled hitter, but head coach Justus Scott went to his bench for a pinch hitter.

Javier Marcial got the opportunity and entered the at bat 2/24, a batting average of .083, and no extra base hits on the season. Marcial fell behind in the count 0-2, and after evening the count at 2-2, Marcial hammered a no doubt home run to left field to tie the game.

Both teams were held scoreless in the tenth and the Sasquatch took the lead in the top of the 11th with three runs to lead it 9-6. Fremont threatened to tie it again, scoring twice, before Jordan Boman recorded the final two outs with the tying run on third to secure the win.

Boman was incredible out of the bullpen, pitching the final five innings and allowing two runs, none earned, and striking out eight. Boman received the win and the Sasquatch took game one 9-8 in 11.

Game 2:

Inclement weather delayed game two of the series until Saturday, making games two and three of the series seven inning doubleheaders.

After a great day on the mound in game one, Jordan Boman started the Sasquatch offense with a two-run homerun in the top of the first to give the Sasquatch an early lead. Spearfish would not lose the lead for the rest of the game, as Cade Bleeker delivered a dominant outing, going four innings and allowing one run.

Seth Nelson also had a great day at the plate, hitting his first home run of the season and driving in five runs as part of a strong 11-1 victory for the Sasquatch.

Game 3:

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Sasquatch again jumped out to an early lead, scoring three in the top of the first. That would be all starter Easton Brooks needed. Brooks had his best outing of the summer, going five innings, striking out eight, and keeping the Moo off the board.

Brooks and Andrew Argenziano held the Moo to just four hits and the Spearfish offense supported the pitching with perfect defense to take game three 6-1.

Seth Nelson played both games of the doubleheader, and in game two, went 3-3 with two more RBI. On the day, he had 7 RBI to power the Sasquatch to a doubleheader sweep and give the Sasquatch a chance for a four-game series sweep.

Game 4:

The series finale featured a pitchers’ duel through three innings, but Micah Coleman broke the scoreless tie with a three-run home run in the top of the fourth. The Moo immediately answered back with a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 3-1 Sasquatch lead.

Jackson Renz got the start for the Sasquatch and went 4 innings, working into the fifth, and allowed three runs, two earned, and did not get a decision. Cole Kreber came in for Renz in the fifth where the Moo jumped in front, scoring three in the frame to lead it 4-3 after five.

The Sasquatch answered back with three runs in the top of the sixth inning, before two runs by the Moo evened the score at six after six innings. In the top of the seventh, a sacrifice fly by Javier Marcial brought home Seth Nelson to give Spearfish a 7-6 lead heading into the seventh inning stretch.

In the bottom of the eighth, Aiden Torpey came in and with the bases loaded and one out, retired two consecutive to wiggle out of the jam and keep the Sasquatch in the lead, 7-6.

An error and a hit by pitch began the bottom of the ninth. With the bases loaded and one out, the Moo scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at seven. A walk off single up the middle gave the Moo the win, 8-7, to salvage the series finale.
Key Performers:

On offense, Seth Nelson had a great series, going 6-15 with a HR, eight RBI, and six runs scored.

The Sasquatch hit six home runs in the series. Seth Nelson, Braden Gostisha, Javier Marcial, Ben Green, Jordan Boman, and Micah Coleman all left the yard and recorded their first home runs of the year.

On the pitching side, Jordan Boman’s effort out of the bullpen in game one allowed Marcial to tie the game in the ninth. Boman’s ERA now sits at 2.91 on the season in 12.1 innings pitched.

Cade Bleeker also earned his first win of the season with a strong outing in game two. Colin Anderson came out of the bullpen in that game and had his first scoreless outing, facing 11 Moo hitters and only allowing two to reach.

What’s Next:

The Sasquatch have an off day on Monday before they are back at home to take on the Oahe Zap (3-12) for one game. The Hastings Sodbusters (7-4) then come to town for a pair of games and the first meeting between the two teams this summer.

All three games begin at 6:05 p.m. MDT at Black Hills Energy Stadium. The games will also be livestreamed on the Spearfish Sasquatch YouTube channel.