RAPID CITY – The Brookings Bobcat baseball team opened a six-game swing out West with a doubleheader sweep of Sturgis on Thursday night at McKeague Field, winning 3-1 and 10-0.
The Bobcats (4-1) face Rapid City Central in a twinbill today at 4 p.m. CT.
Game 1
• Brookings 3, Sturgis 1
Chris Lerdal tossed a three-hitter as the Bobcats pulled out the win.
He struck out 10 batters and walked two.
Lerdal was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the fourth. He stole second and reached third on a wild pitch, before scoring on a two-out error to put Brookings on the board.
The Scoopers scored their lone run in the bottom of the fourth via Manny Gaiosa’s two-out RBI single.
Jacob Devine, who finished 2-for-4, doubled to open the fifth and then advanced to third on Cody Niklason’s groundout.
Tyler Kreutner’s sacrifice fly put the Bobcats on top for good at 2-1.
Lerdal led off the sixth with a two-bagger but was stranded.
In the seventh, Parker Beers reached on an error and then swiped second. Niklason was hit by a pitch with one out.
Kreutner walked to load the bases and Akren Prodoehl also drew a base on balls to force in Beers. Back-to-back strikeouts helped Sturgis avoid further damage.
Scooper starter Tristen Walters allowed two runs – one earned – on two hits with three strikeouts and a walk in four innings of work.
Sturgis committed four errors.
BROOKINGS 3, STURGIS 1
Brookings 000 110 1 – 3 3 0
Sturgis 000 100 0 – 1 3 4
Chris Lerdal and Cody Niklason; Tristen Walters, Devon Odle (6) and Brian Duran. W – Lerdal. L – Walters. 2B: B, Lerdal, Jacob Devine.
Game 2
• Brookings 10, Sturgis 0
Drew Cole pitched a gem and the Bobcats totaled nine hits to complete the sweep.
The lanky right-hander gave up three hits and a walk while striking out seven in a complete-game effort.
Brookings scored two runs in the first and second innings, and added one in the third to move ahead 5-0. The Bobcats put the game out of reach with three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh.
Devine finished 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Prodoehl added a pair of hits and two RBIs.
Lerdal finished with a pair of doubles and an RBI.
Brandon Nelson, who doubled, and Niklason each added a hit and an RBI. Jacob Schoon also drove in a run. Kreutner, who had the team’s other hit, and Beers scored two runs apiece.
The Scoopers’ Daniel Walter went 2-for-3.
Josh West took the loss on the mound after surrendering eight runs – three earned – on seven hits and four walks with two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
Sturgis committed seven errors.
BROOKINGS 10, STURGIS 0
Brookings 221 003 2 – 10 9 2
Sturgis 000 000 0 – 0 3 7
Drew Cole and Jacob Schoon; Josh West, Cody Ulmer (6) and Brian Duran. W – Cole. L – West. 2B: Chris Lerdal 2, Brandon Nelson, Jacob Devine.