BUHLER, Kan. — The Wichita Collegiate Spartans took advantage of costly Buhler errors to complete the sweep of the Crusaders on Thursday afternoon at Wheatland Park.
Game 1 — Wichita Collegiate 5, Buhler 2
Collegiate scored four runs in the top of the first and leaned on strong pitching to earn a 5-2 win over Buhler in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader at Wheatland Park.
The Spartans (4-4) jumped all over the Crusaders in the opening frame with four hits, including RBI singles from Maddox Drumright and Isaac Vanderburg. A wild pitch and a walk with the bases loaded added to the early lead, and Devin Ritchie capped the inning by lining into a double play with the bases still loaded.
Collegiate added a fifth run in the second on Drumright’s second RBI hit of the day, scoring Mason Bond.
Buhler (5-2) responded with two runs in the bottom of the first. Mitchell McDaniel doubled home one, and Brayden Henry reached on an error that brought in another. But the Crusaders managed just two hits the rest of the way.
On the mound, Jacob Stehley started for Collegiate, striking out six while allowing two runs on three hits over four innings. Drumright closed the door, striking out two in three innings of one-hit relief to earn the win.
McDaniel and Dylan Scripsick each had doubles for Buhler, which committed one costly error and left multiple runners in scoring position.
Nixon Standlee took the loss for the Crusaders, surrendering five runs (four earned) over six innings with four walks and four strikeouts.
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Game 2 — Wichita Collegiate 17, Buhler 5
Wichita Collegiate erupted for 17 runs on 13 hits and capitalized on five Buhler errors to cruise to a 17-5 win in Game 2 of Thursday’s doubleheader at Wheatland Park, completing the sweep and pushing the Spartans above .500 on the season.
With the win, Collegiate improved to 5-4, while Buhler dropped to 5-3.
The Spartans scored in every inning but the first, putting up five runs in the second and seventh frames to break the game open. Jacob Stehley and Devin Ritchie led the offensive barrage with two hits and three RBIs each. Stehley scored three times and ripped a double, while Ritchie added a two-run triple.
Carter Drumright also tallied two hits and three RBIs, reaching base three times and scoring twice. Isaac Vanderburg and Carson Malaise each knocked in two runs and combined for five hits.
Collegiate took advantage of 10 free passes and two hit batters while collecting six extra-base hits. The Spartans sent 10 batters to the plate in both the second and seventh innings.
Drumright also picked up the win on the mound, allowing three earned runs on four hits in four innings. Vanderburg and Mason Bond combined to cover the final three innings in relief.
Buhler briefly cut the deficit to 6-3 in the fifth inning on a two-run double by McCade Zachary, but Collegiate immediately answered with three in the top of the sixth.
The Crusaders used five pitchers in the loss, with Jared Miller charged with the defeat after allowing six runs (two earned) in one inning of relief.
Zachary, Cash Carson and Brayden Henry each had two hits to pace Buhler’s offense.