Pierre Post 8 came up short in both games on Tuesday as the Eights were swept by the Brookings Bandits falling 6-4 and 7-5 to begin the 2022 season.
Walks were the catalyst to runs in the first game as five of the six runs scored by Brookings reached base from a walk. Isaac Polak took the loss on the mound going two and two thirds in his season debut, allowing two hits but six walks on two strikeouts. George Stalley went three and a third scoreless in relief allowing just three hits. Pierre outhit Brookings 6-5 in the loss as Jack Merkwan picked up two hits for the Eights. Zach Struck went 2-3 for Brookings with 4 RBI in the win.
Pierre again outhit Brookings in the game two loss, 9-7 and once led 5-0 after two and a half innings. Brookings took its lead in the bottom of the fourth on a five running which saw two Bandits hit by a pitch and two out hitting steal the inning and ultimately the game. Henry Hammrich, down 0-2 in the count with two outs singled into center to pull Brookings within one and Ashton Witte drove in the go-ahead run before Struck added one more RBI in the five run fourth. Nathan Lease went the distance on the mound for the Bandits to pick up the win. Lincoln Kienholz suffered the loss in an inning of relief work for Pierre. Jonny Lyons went 3-3 with three singles and 2 RBI for Pierre at the plate.
Post 8 will travel to Rapid City for a weekend tournament beginning on Thursday. The Eights will face Laramie in the first game of the tournament at 5:30 Central Time Thursday at Fitzgerald Stadium. Coverage will begin around 5:15 on KCCR and on YouTube at KCCR Sports with Jon Winkler on the call.
