The Kewanee baseball team gave the 20-3 Sherrard Tigers a run for their money Friday night at Northeast Park.
The Boilers led 3-2 after five innings, but the Tigers outscored Kewanee 6-4 in the final two innings to claim the 8-7 TRAC win.
Sherrard remains the only unbeaten team in the TRAC conference at 9-0, while the Boilers fall to 6-16 and 1-7 in league play. Kewanee played again Monday, losing to Mendota by a score of 5-1 and moving to 6-17 (1-8).
Sherrard 8, Kewanee 7
The Tigers held a slim 2-1 lead over the Boilers until the fifth inning when Kewanee scored two more runs to take a 3-2 lead.
Jacob Fratzke and Blake Sierens plated the first two runs for Sherrard (2-0). The Boilers got on the board after Brady Schiltz doubled on a fly ball to center field, sending home Cruz Paredes for a score of 2-1.
The score remained 2-1 until the fifth inning. Landon Sheets then hit a line drive to center field for a double. Brayden Conley followed up with a single, sending home Brady Clark to knot the score at 2-2. Sheets then scored on a wild pitch, giving Kewanee a 3-2 lead.
At the top of the sixth inning, Sherrard countered with runs by Maddux Harksen and Sierens to take back the lead at 4-3.
The Tigers hit three doubles in the seventh inning en route to scoring four runs and mounting an 8-3 lead. Hitting doubles were Payton German, Cam Davis and Garrett Woodward.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Sheets hit a sacrifice fly and Clark scored on the play (8-4). Conley then singled on a pop fly to shortstop and Cruz Paredes scored to move within three at 8-5.
Shortly after, Jackson Hawkins scored on a balk by Sherrard pitcher (Fratzke) to close the gap to two (8-6). The rally continued after Schiltz doubled on a fly ball to center field and Conley advanced to third.
Conley then scored on a wild pitch to bring the Boilers within a run at 8-7. Kewanee’s rally, however, came up short.
Colson Welgat pitched the first five innings for the Boilers. He struck out seven and walked two, while surrendering five hits and two earned runs. Schiltz pitched the final two innings. He fanned one and walked three, while giving up five hits and six earned runs.
At the plate
Conley (3-4, 2 RBI, 1 run). Schiltz (2-4, 1 double, 1 RBI). Sheets (1-3, 1 double, 1 run, 1 RBI). Hawkins (1-3, 1 run, 1 BB). Welgat (1-2, 2 BB). Paredes (2 runs, 1 BB). Price (1-3).
Mendota 5, Kewanee 1
The Trojans took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Justin Randolph hit a sacrifice fly and Grady Jones scored on the play.
Mendota added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Isaiah Nanez hit a one run double, sending home Randolph and expanding the lead to 2-0.
The Boilers put a run on the board in the top of the sixth inning. Ben Taylor reached first on an error and Brady Schiltz scored to pull within one.
The Trojans countered with three runs in the bottom of the inning for a final score of 5-1.
Nanez was the winning pitcher for Mendota. He went the distance, striking out eight while giving up three hits and one unearned run.
Landon Sheets took the loss for Kewanee. In five innings in the circle he fanned six and walked three, while surrendering five hits and five earned runs.
Taylor, Cruz Paredes and Brayden Conley each recorded singles for the Boilers.
