SHS baseball opens season with 5-4 loss at Marshall

The Sturgis baseball team opened the season on Wednesday in Marshall.

It wasn’t the end the Trojans wanted as Marshall picked up a 5-4 victory, scoring the winning run in the home half of the seventh. Even in defeat, the Trojans are feeling fairly well about how they played, given the season is still in its infancy.

“I’m really pleased with how we played tonight. We only had one chance to practice on the field, so it’s hard to predict how we will play,” Sturgis coach Drew Rutenbar said.

Sturgis struck first in the game, scoring in the top of the third inning. Gavin PeDue started the inning with a walk, he would later come around to score on an error from Marshall to put the Trojans ahead 1-0.

In the home half of the fourth, Marshall scored four runs. None of these were earned and three came with two outs in the inning. Marshall would lead the game 4-1, but Sturgis would add one in the fourth.

Taner Patrick hit a ground ball to the second baseman, scoring PeDue once again. PeDue had walked to begin the inning and later came around to score.

Sturgis would trail 4-2 heading into its final at bat. But the Trojans were able to rally.

“It was nice to see the guys stay focused and chip away at the lead,” Rutenbar said. “Our pitchers threw well and we had a lot of good at-bats.”

In the seventh, Gavyn Moore opened with a walk. Following that, Patrick reached by an error to give the Trojans a pair of runners on base.

Gibson Cary then plated both runners, smacking a double to score both Moore and Patrick, tying the game. The Trojans were unable to take the lead and score Cary, but had tied the contest.

Then, Marshall was able to walk-off the game in the home half of the seventh.

Sturgis finished with only three hits in the game — the double from Cary, plus a single each from Moore and Hunter Kosmerick. The Trojans did collect three walks in the contest, including three from PeDue.

On the bump, Cary started and threw a couple of innings with two strikeouts. Kosmerick threw the middle two innings, striking out three. Patrick was officially the pitcher of record, tossing the final 2 2/3 innings with two strikeouts.

Sturgis is back in action next Tuesday with a double-header against visiting Colon.