Hays Post
GERING, Neb. - Garrett Greuell's two-out, two-run homer in the seventh broke a 2-2 tie and led the Hays Larks to an 5-3 win over the Western Nebraska Pioneers Saturday night at Oregon Trail Park Stadium.
Austin Stracener added an RBI single which scored B Evans in the eighth. The Pioneers (4-3) scored a run in the ninth on a wild pitch before Trent Baker got a strikeout to end the game.
The Larks (2-1) grabbed the lead in the second on Peyton Ebbing's single to left which scored Luis Garcia. Western Nebraska answered with a run in the bottom of the inning on a groundout after back-to-back singles.
Trent Baker singled in the fifth scoring Ebbing to put the Larks up 2-1. The Plainsmen got a home run from Griffin Robinson to lead off the bottom of the inning to tie the game 2-2.
Kam Watson (1-0) allowed on run on three hits with six strikeouts an no walks over four innings of relief and picked up the win. Trent Baker worked around a pair of walks and allowed one run with three strikeouts for the save.
Starter Luuk ter Beek allowed one run on four hits with seven strikeouts and no walks over four innings.
HOT START
Garrett Gruell went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs Saturday. He now has five hits over the Larks first three games and leads the team with five RBIs.
UP NEXT
The Larks close out their four-game, season-opening road trip Sunday afternoon in North Platte, Nebraska against the North Platte Plainsmen. First pitch is scheduled for 4:35 p.m. CDT.