Pratt Community College baseball began the month of March with the start of KJCCC conference play. The Beavers hosted Seward County Community College at Stanion Field for the beginning of a four game, home and home series. Pratt won the double header sweep taking the first two games of the series.
In Game 1 of the series, Seward came out to a quick lead in the first inning scoring three runs. The Blue and White answered with four runs in their first chance at bat. With runners on first and second, Sean Johnson singled to right field bringing Elerie Rivera home. Pratt loaded the bases bringing Keaton Gage to the plate. Gage hit a double to clear the bases. After the first inning, PCC held a 4-3 lead.
The Beavers added to their lead in the third inning with another four runs. With runners on first and second Kahlir Vazquez hit a home run for the first three runs of the inning. Pratt got Trace Maddux and Rivera on base with a single and a batter hit by pitch. The two then stole third and second. Kenneth Gonzalez then flew out to left field bringing Maddux home. Pratt controlled the lead adding four runs through the rest of the game taking Game 1 12-6.
Gonzalez led the Blue and White at the plate in Game 1. He went three for four with three RBIs and two runs. Gage and Vazquez both went one for four with three RBIs each.
From the mound Sean McElwee commanded the Pratt defense. McElwee threw the complete seven innings in Game 1. In the 33 batters he faced McElwee struck out eight. McElwee improves his season record to 2-1 with the win.
Game 2 saw both Pratt and Seward's offenses explode in a high scoring matchup. The Beavers started the scoring with two runs in the first inning. With runners on the corners, Rivera broke for second. An errant throw allowed Maddux to score from third with Rivera advancing to third. Gonzalez grounded out to the catcher, but managed to bring home Rivera from third. After the first inning, PCC led 2-0.
Seward tied things up in the second with two runs. Ward hit a solo blast in the third inning to put Seward on top. PCC trailed 2-3 heading into the bottom of the third.
Pratt's offense came alive in the bottom of the third scoring eight runs. The Blue and White gritted the runs out, hustling and reaching the bases while runners kept scoring from base hits. The Beavers added eight more runs over the course of the game to secure the win. PCC takes the Game 2 victory 18-12.
Johnson and Maddux sparked the attack for the Blue and White in Game 2. Johnson finished the game going three for four at the plate with three runs and two RBIs. Maddux went three for five at the plate with three runs.
On the mound, Quentin Kopjar gets his first win of the season. Kopjar had two strike outs and gave up a walk to the 19 batters he faced. Jack Partington had the most strike outs of the Beaver pitchers with four strike outs to the 14 batters he faced.
Player of the game goes to Pratt's Rivera. Rivera was five for six from the plate with five runs and two RBIs.
The Blue and White improve to 6-6 on the season and 2-0 in KJCCC play.
PCC baseball travels to Liberal, Kan to wrap up the four game series against Seward on March 3. First pitch in the double header is set for 1 p.m.