The Bismarck Larks are cruising to the end of the season, sweeping the Bismarck Bull Moose in a doubleheader Saturday to give them a three-game win streak, and an eight-game lead in the pod standings. The Great Lakes Resorters beat the Traverse City Pit Spitters, while the Kalamazoo Mac Daddies topped the Battle Creek Bombers 5-0.
North Dakota Pod
Bismarck Larks 4 Bismarck Bull Moose 2
The Larks broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs to take a 4-1 lead, which they wouldn’t relinquish as they took the first game of the day. Cal James (University of Mary) was 1-3 for the Larks, with a double and two RBI. His double came in the fifth, when he doubled into right field, scoring a pair of runs. Kyle Leapaldt (Bismarck State College) picked up the win, throwing three relief innings, allowing a run on three hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Bismarck Larks 3 Bismarck Bull Moose 0
Cole Hage (Columbia) was 2-2 in the nightcap, with two doubles and an RBI to lead the Larks to a sweep of the Bull Moose. He was the only Larks batter to record multiple hits, though as a team the Larks pounded out six hits. On the other side of the scorecard, the Bull Moose only recorded four hits, two of which came from Jarrett Bickel (Palm Beach State College). Carter Rost (Bismarck State College) got the start for the Larks and threw three scoreless innings, racking up six strikeouts. He gave way to Alec Battest (University of Mary), who threw three scoreless innings of his own, allowing two hits and striking out one batter to pick up the win. Hage also threw one scoreless inning to pick up the save.
Michigan Pod
Great Lakes Resorters 4 Traverse City Pit Spitters 2
Three Resorters had multiple hits on Saturday to lead Great Lakes to a 4-2 win over the Spitters. Roman Kuntz (Lake Michigan College) led the way, going 2-2 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and an RBI. Aaron Hurd (Lyon College) was 2-3, with a triple and a run scored while Champ Davison (Nicholls State) was 2-3, while scoring one run. Brant Kym (Hope College) picked up two hits for the Spitters, along with an RBI. He also drew a walk on the night. John Beuckelare (Madonna University) was credited with the win after throwing six and two-thirds of an inning, allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts. Hunter Nelson (Muskkegon CC) picked up the save, throwing three pitches and getting a flyout to wrap things up.
Kalamazoo Mac Daddies 5 Battle Creek Bombers 0
The Mac Daddies wasted no time on Saturday, scoring four runs in the first two innings to easily top the Bombers on a day where only one game was played due to field conditions. Anthony Calarco (Northwestern) was 2-3 for Kalamazoo, with a pair of RBI. Ethan O’Donnell (Northwestern) was 2-3 with a triple while Connor McGuire (UC-Irvine) had a pair of hits, one of which was a double. Tanner Knapp (Kalamazoo Valley CC) threw three scoreless innings for the Mac Daddies, allowing two hits and recording five strikeouts to improve to 4-0 on the season.
Sunday, August 30 schedule
Mandan Flickertails at Bismarck Larks 12:35 p.m. CT
Kalamazoo Mac Daddies at Kalamazoo Growlers 5:15 p.m. ET/8 p.m. ET