Game #2 of a doubleheader between the WESTCO Storm and the Alliance Prep club ended the same way as game one. The Spartans rallied but fell short in a 11 to 7 loss to Scottsbluff. Earlier in the night, the Peltz Co gave it their all in the opener. Alliance eventually dropped a 13 to 8 decision to the Storm. A five run fifth inning was big for the hosts. The Bluffs also had a successful sixth frame in getting the victory. Alliance had 7 hits on the evening with Dixon Bair and Carsen Bunnell leading the way with 2 hits apiece. Three Spartans took the mound. Logan Freiberger started and was relieved by Bair and Eban Lore.
Play began with the Spartans taking the lead. A hit by Bair and a walk by Freiberger got the Peltz Co off to a nice start. Quinn Ferguson then had an RBI single that plated Bair and made the score 1 to 0. Alliance’s second tally came after an error by the Storm. Freiberger set WESTCO down in order in the bottom of the inning. Despite a single by Silas Lilley-Stone, the Spartans failed to score in the top of the second. The hosts sliced into their deficit in the bottom of the frame. A single and an RBI groundout by the Bluffs made the scoreboard read Peltz Co 2 WESTCO 1 after 2 innings of action.
Inning #3 had the Spartans surge ahead by 3. A walk to Cooper Galles and a hit by Carsen Bunnell set the set for Kyler Adams. The Spartan centerfielder answered the call with an RBI groundout that put the Alliance lead at 3 to 1. Eventually, Bunnell would cross the plate after stealing home. Up by 3, Freiberger tossed a scoreless third and the contest went to inning 4 with Alliance ahead 4 to 1.
Bats were silent for the Preps in the fourth. The Peltz Co went down 1-2-3 and the margin stood at 3. WESTCO drew close with one tally in the bottom half of the frame. The Storm used 3 singles to made the score 4 to 2. Alliance foiled the host’s rally with a double play to end the inning. A single by Bunnell in the top of inning 5 gave Alliance a chance but the Spartan was stranded on the sacks. Meanwhile, the Storm came up big in their attempt in the inning. The Bluffs tallied 5 runs to take a 7 to 4 lead. WESTCO used 5 hits plus a walk to go up by 3. Alliance would turn another double play in the inning to limit the damage. Going to the sixth, Alliance trailed 7 to 4.
A hit by Bair in the top of the sixth gave the Prep team hope but the Spartan shortstop was left on the bases. The home half of the inning saw the Storm increase their advantage with 4 more tallies. WESTCO went up by 7 using 2 hits, a batter hit by a pitch, a walk, a passed ball, and a steal of home to cushion their lead. The Peltz Co came back with a pair of runs in their last try. Walks to Galles and Roy Torres started the comeback. Adams was next and his 2 run single made the score 11 to 6. An error by WESTCO gave Alliance their seventh tally but the Spartans would get no closer. Final Storm 11 Spartans 7
PELTZ 2 0 2 0 0 0 3 7
WESTCO 0 1 0 1 5 4 x 11
Seven hits for Alliance Bair 2 Bunnell 2; one apiece Lilley-Stone, Adams, Ferguson.