STURGIS, SD – The Sturgis Scoopers hosted the Gillette Riders in a doubleheader at Strong Field on Monday night, making up two games that were postponed due to bad weather last week. The Riders outslugged the Scoopers 9-6 in game one and shut down Sturgis in game two, 11-1 in six innings.
In game one, Gillette got on the board in the first inning, plating three runs on hits by Cory Schilling, Mason Drube and Dominic Hecker. Sturgis answered with three runs in the bottom of the second on hits by Owen Cass, Beau Peters and Bricon Herren, tying the game headed into the third inning.
The Riders extended their lead with six more runs over the final five innings, securing the win.
Kelby Foss got the win for Gillette on the mound. The righty went three and a third innings, allowing four runs on four hits. Grayson Sargent and Jarrett Black entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief.
Aidan Wood gave up seven runs on eight hits for Sturgis over three and two-thirds innings, striking out four. Brody Royer threw three and a third innings in relief.
Evan Stroud led the Scoopers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two singles. Gillette had nine hits in the game with Drube, Schilling, and Hecker each collecting multiple hits for the Riders.
Gillette dominated game two, racking up 11 runs on seven hits to beat Sturgis in six innings, 11-1 by the mercy rule.
Jacob Pelton was the winning pitcher for Gillette. The hurler went four innings, allowing one run on three hits, striking out five and walking one. Hogan Tystad threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen. The Riders were flawless on defense with no errors and improved to 12-2 on the season.
Sophomore right hander Brand Matthew took the loss for Sturgis. Matthew allowed seven hits and ten runs over five innings, striking out four. The Scoopers committed four errors defensively and could only manage three hits and fell to 5-4.
The Scoopers host Rapid City Stevens on Tuesday night in a doubleheader at Strong Field. The first game starts at 5pm.