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Down 7-2 in the fifth inning, Doniphan County’s third baseman Nathan Gaarder stepped to the plate. DC needed offense in a hurry to have a shot at bringing the record back to .500.
One swing, one loud sound from the bat and one crushed ball that traveled 375 feet over the centerfield wall gave Doniphan County all the momentum.
Gaarder blasted a three-run homerun out of the park and Doniphan County (8-8) used 10 runs in two innings to win 12-7 over Atchison (5-7) in Wathena, Kan.
Both teams tallied a run in the first inning off errors. DC took the lead 2-1 after the third inning off a RBI single by Nathan Gaarder.
The A’s offense exploded in the top half of the fourth inning off four straight singles. Geoffrey Vaugh and Ricky Kearney both came up with RBI singles in a three-run inning to give a 4-2 advantage to the A’s. After a quiet bottom half of the fourth inning, Atchison took advantage of DC errors and scored three more runs to lead 7-2 going into the bottom of the fifth.
That’s when Nathan Gaarder’s three-run shot jumpstarted the Doniphan County offense. Colton Masters followed Gaarder’s hit with a two-RBI double to tie the game at seven runs apiece. The only one-two-three inning came in the top of the sixth when reliever Phoenix Keller retired the side.
Doniphan County added five more runs off three errors in the sixth and headed to the seventh with a 12-7 lead. Atchison’s first baseman Johnny Kane started off the inning with a walk, but the next two batters struck out and the A’s hope of a comeback quickly vanished.
Nathan Gaarder finished with five RBI and going 4-4. Shortstop Colton Masters also went 2-5 with three RBI and a stolen base.
Atchison’s Geoffrey Vaughn finished with a 2-3 performance and two RBI. Ricky Kearny picked up his first hit on the season and went 2-3 with a RBI.
Updated NEK League Legion Basebal Standings -- click here
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