GILLETTE, WY – The Sturgis Scoopers opened up their season Wednesday afternoon in Gillette and dropped two games to the Roughriders. The Sccooers fell behind early in the opener and couldn’t come back in an 11-1 loss in game one, and lost 14-0 in game two.
Gillette got things started in the first inning in game one when Cory Schilling doubled on a 3-2 count, scoring one run.
Gillette scored six runs in the third inning, thanks to an error on a ball put in play by PJ Hatzenbuhler. The Roughriders led 11-0 headed into the fifth inning. Sturgis managed one run in the top half of the fifth but couldn’t plate another run, losing by the 10-run mercy rule.
Riley Schilling got the win on the mound for Gillette, throwing four innings, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out five and walking one.
Kain Peters took the loss for the Scoopers. The hurler went two innings, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out two and walking one. Brody Royer threw two innings out of the bullpen.
Evan Stroud and Dylan Christenson each collected one hit to lead the Scoopers.
Gillette racked up ten hits in the game. Schilling went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Roughriders in hits. Gillette was sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error.
In game two, Sturgis struggled to contain the high-powered offense of Gillette, giving up 14 runs and losing in five innings.
Gillette opened up scoring in the first inning. Hatzenbuhler doubled on a 0-1 count, scoring two runs.
Hogan Tystad led Gillette to victory on the mound. The pitcher surrendered zero runs on zero hits over two and two-thirds innings, striking out five. Cory Schilling threw two and a third innings in relief out of the bullpen. Schilling also went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Roughriders.
Owen Cass took the loss for the Scoopers. The right hander surrendered four runs on three hits over two innings, striking out five. Connor Cruickshank and Carson Williams entered the game in relief, throwing one and two-thirds innings and one-third of an inning respectively.
Dylan Christenson, Hunter Janzen, and Heckenlaible each collected one hit for the Scoopers.
The Scoopers, 0–2, are in action next on Tuesday as they host the Rapid City Stevens Raiders at Strong Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 PM.
