STURGIS, SD – The Sturgis Scoopers swept Rapid City Stevens in a doubleheader at Strong Field on Tuesday night, shutting out the Raiders in game one, 6-0, and coming from behind to take game two, 2-1.
The Scoopers secured the victory in game one thanks to five runs in the fifth inning. Connor Cruickshank, Kain Peters, and Adam Flohr each had RBIs in the frame.
Beau Peters pitched the Scoopers to victory. The righthander allowed three hits and no runs over six and two-thirds innings, striking out four. Dylan Christenson threw one-third of an inning in relief out of the bullpen. Christenson led Sturgis with three hits in four at bats.
Colten Morlang took the loss for Stevens, throwing four and two-thirds innings, allowing five hits and five runs while striking out two.
Game two was a much closer affair, as Scooper right hander Owen Cass faced off with Stevens hurler Ian Beer.
Both teams were scoreless until the top of the fifth, when Stevens leadoff hitter Brady Bickett singled, stole second and then scored on a Scooper throwing error after a hit by Cooper Morlang. The Raiders led 1-0 headed into the sixth.
Cass singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth for Sturgis and was brought home on an RBI single by Brody Royer to tie the game. Stevens was held scoreless in the top of the seventh. The Scoopers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Hunter Janzen scored the winning run on a walkoff RBI single by Kain Peters in dramatic fashion to sweep Stevens in the twin bill.
Connor Cruickshank was credited with the victory for Sturgis. The pitcher surrendered one run on two hits over four innings, striking out five and walking one.
Beer took the loss for Stevens. The pitcher surrendered two runs on seven hits over six and a third innings, striking out four.
Sturgis improves to 7-4 on the season and Stevens falls to 8-6. The Scoopers travel to Mitchell on Friday to play the Kernels in a doubleheader.
