SIOUX FALLS – The Bullets have now lost five-straight games after losing both games in a doubleheader against Sioux Falls West Thursday in Sioux Falls.

Game 1

• Sioux Falls West 8, Brookings 3

Sioux Falls West used a five-run third inning to give them a comfortable lead and they didn’t look back, winning Game 1.

After both teams were held scoreless in the first inning, Sioux Falls West scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second. Emmott Nathan led off the inning with a single and scored on an error to make it 1-0 after two innings.

Sioux Falls West then held Brookings scoreless and scored five innings in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Dexter Payne hit a single and Carter Portner walked. Nathan then singled to load the bases up. Payne scored on a Kolin Schroeder single and Portner scored on a dropped third strike. Nathan scored on a Isaac Adam single and Cody Moores hit a two-RBI single to give Sioux Falls West a 6-0 lead heading into the fourth inning.

Neither team scored in the fourth inning and Brookings finally got on the board in the top of the fifth inning. Isaac Norgaard and Ethan Molengraaf each hit one-out singles and Norgaard scored on a Jett Leddy single to make it 6-1. Molengraaf was thrown out trying to advance to third and Josh Devine grounded out to end the inning.

Sioux Falls West added two more runs in the bottom of the inning. Kaden Frick hit an RBI double and Adam hit an RBI single to make it 8-1 after five innings.

The Bullets were able to get those two runs back in the top of the sixth. Lincoln Hardin led off the inning with a single and Joey McMacken walked. With one out, Lincoln Hardin scored on an error. With two outs, Norgaard singled and Sam Hardin scored on a steal of home to make it 8-3.

Brookings held Sioux Falls West scoreless in the bottom of the sixth and was down to their final at-bats in the top of the seventh. Leddy flew out to left field to begin the inning and Peyton Theodosopoulos popped out to the second baseman for the second out of the inning. Josh Devine then grounded out to the shortstop to end the game.

Devine started the game for the Bullets and pitched 4 1/3 innings. He gave up eight runs, two earned, on nine hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. Molengraaf pitched 1 2/3 shut-out innings. He gave up one hit with one strikeout and no walks.

Leddy went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Norgaard went 2-for-3 and McMacken went 1-for-2.

SIOUX FALLS WEST 8, BROOKINGS 3

Brookings           000  012  0 – 3   7 4

Sioux Falls West 015  020  x – 8 10 3

Game 2

• Sioux Falls West 15, Brookings 3

Sioux Falls West used an 11-run second inning to top Brookings in three innings.

The Bullets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. With one out, Devine walked and Lincoln Hardin singled. McMacken then walked to load the bases up. With two outs, Devine scored on a wild pitch and Sam Hardin grounded out to end the inning.

The lead did not last very long as Sioux Falls West took the lead in the bottom of the inning. With two outs Nathan and Nick Pellicote both hit RBI singles to make it 2-1 after one inning. 

The Bullets were held scoreless in the top of the second inning and Sioux Falls West had a huge bottom of the inning, scoring 11 runs. The inning was highlighted by five RBI singles and two errors.

Trailing 13-1, the Bullets scored two runs in the third inning. With one out, McMacken reached on an error and that allowed Devine to score. Norgaard then hit an RBI single to make it 13-3.

Pelicote and Danny Lesher both walked to start off the bottom of the third. Pelicote Scored on a wild pitch and Lesher scored on a RBI single from Caleb Honner that ended the game.

Sam Hardin pitched two innings for the Bullets and gave up 13 runs, six earned, on 12 hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Norgaard went 1-for-2 with an RBI and Lincoln Hardin went 2-for-2. Sam Hardin and Brayden Clifford each went 1-for-2.

The Bullets, who are now 15-19, will head back to Sioux Falls July 22nd to face Sioux Falls East in a doubleheader with the first game starting at 5 p.m.

SIOUX FALLS WEST 15, BROOKINGS 3 (3 inn.)

Brookings            1 02  –   3   5 3

Sioux Falls West 2112 – 15 13 1