Bandits split with Huron

Brookings Post 74's Austin Koenig takes a cut during the Bandits' 23-5 win over Post 7 in Game 1 of a Legion baseball doubleheader Friday at Memorial Field in Huron. Huron won the nightcap, 9-8. Photo by Mike Carroll/Huron Daily Plainsman

HURON – The Bandits had 33 hits in two games and still ended up with a doubleheader split on Friday at Memorial Stadium in Huron.

Brookings pounded out 19 hits in a 23-5 six-inning win over Post 7, but a Bandit fielding error in the bottom of the sixth of Game 2 allowed Huron to break an 8-8 tie and then Post 7 held on for a 9-8 win and a split.

Brookings, 25-5 on the season, plays host to Brandon Valley for a single game Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.



• Brookings 23, Huron 5

Trailing 3-2 heading into the fourth, the Bandits scored five runs to take a 7-3 lead and then exploded for 16 runs in the sixth to end the game early via the run rule.

Corey Roach struck out nine to earn the win while Matt Thomas and Thomas McMacken each hit grandslam homeruns in the sixth.

Thomas finished 5-for-6 with eight runs batted in while Austin Koenig had four hits and three RBIs and Trevor Puetz added four hits and two RBIs.



BROOKINGS 23, HURON 5

Brookings 101 50(16) – 23 19 4

Huron 003 002 – 5 6 4

Corey Roach and Austin Koenig; Tyler Waddle and Zack Cranstron. W – Roach. L – Waddle. 2B: B – Skyler Cary, Matt Thomas, Kelby Beste, Landon Busch; H – Tristan Hamilton, Zack Cranston. HR: B – Matt Thomas, Thomas McMacken.



• Huron 9, Brookings 8

Brookings led 4-2 after 3 1/2 innings before Post 7 scored six in the bottom of the fourth to take an 8-4 lead.

The Bandits scored twice in the fifth and two more in the sixth to tie the game at 8-all, but a pair of Post 74 errors allowed Huron’s Zach Cranston to score in the bottom of the sixth.

Brookings had chances in the top of the seventh with bases loaded and only one out, but Mike Johnson got the last two outs on infield flyouts and Huron earned the one-run win.

Matt Pejsa suffered the loss on the mound as the Bandits outhit Post 7, 14-8, but four of Huron’s hits went for extra bases.

Thomas continued his hot night at the plate as he finished 4-of-5 with an RBI, while Roach went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs.



HURON 9, BROOKINGS 8

Brookings 031 022 0 – 8 14 3

Huron 110 601 x – 9 8 3

Konner Beste, Matt Pejsa (4) and Austin Koenig; Mike Johnson and Zack Cranston. W – Johnson. L – Pejsa. 2B: B – Corey Roach (2); H – Damen Robish (3), Danny Puentes. HR: B – Landon Busch.