Stevens Mounts Late Comeback to Down Scoopers

RAPID CITY, SD – The Rapid City Stevens Raiders scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-4 lead over the Sturgis Scoopers, then exploded for eight more runs in the sixth to defeat Sturgis, 13-7 at McKeague Field on Wednesday evening.

The Scoopers got on the board early, as Dustin Alan drove in two runs with a double to right field in the top of the first off Stevens starter Luke Jegeris to lead 2-0. Stevens then dinged up Scooper right hander Kain Peters in the bottom half of the inning as leadoff hitter Brady Bickett tripled, then scored on a single by Cooper Morlang. The next batter, Colton Nesland, doubled to right and drove in Morlang, tying the game at two after one inning. 

The Scoopers added a run in the third and one in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead into the fifth inning. Peters shut down the Stevens bats in the second, third and fourth innings, overpowering the Raiders with fastballs and breaking balls, holding Rapid City hitless and striking out six. 

The Raider bats came to life in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs on four hits to take a 5-4 lead. Left handed reliever Brady Bickett held Sturgis scoreless in the top of the sixth and held on to the lead. 

Peters struck out the leadoff batter, Jack Wall, in the bottom of the sixth.  Stevens then pounded the ball around the diamond the rest of the inning, scoring eight runs and extending their lead to 13-4 after six full innings.  The Scoopers plated three runs in the top of the seventh but couldn’t put together a comeback of their own, falling to the Stevens Raiders, 13-7.

Bickett earned the win for Stevens (8-4), giving up four runs on five hits, striking out six. Bickett was stellar at the plate as well, going 3-4 with a single, double and a triple and three RBIs. Stevens had 10 total hits and five stolen bases. 

Peters took the loss for Sturgis (3-8), striking out 11 and giving up seven runs hits on five hits.  The Scoopers had seven hits and five steals, led by Dustin Alan, who went 2-4 with two runs batted in. 

The Scoopers host Rapid City Central at Strong Field on Friday evening in a doubleheader, weather permitting. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 pm.