Matt Hanson would hit for the cycle in game one of the doubleheader on Thursday, but it wasn’t enough as Pierre would fall to Bismarck 18-8 and 10-0 in a doubleheader sweep.
Hanson, in his final home games at Hyde Stadium as a super senior, would hit the first pitch of the bottom of the first over the left field fence for his first homer of his career. He would follow up with a single in the second inning before getting a triple in the fourth and then finishing off the cycle in the sixth with an RBI double. Hanson had three RBIs in the first game, but Pierre couldn’t keep Bismarck off the scoreboard allowing multiple runs in five of the six innings which included a five run first inning. Pierre had a scoreless second and the Eights pulled within one at 5-4 after two innings, but a four run third, two run fourth, four run fifth and three run sixth opened up a 18-6 lead for the Governors. Pierre scored twice in the sixth, but the run to keep the game alive was left on at third.
In game two, Pierre had just two hits and grounded into three double plays in five innings. Nolan Peterson would get the first Pierre hit to lead off the third, but was retired in an inning ending double play. George Stalley, in his return from injury since June 6 would have the other of the two hits in the fifth inning. Tommy Karljic would hit a leadoff homer in the third and then Bismarck would score seven runs in the fourth to take a 10-0 lead and hold on to grab a doubleheader sweep, their second in as many days. Jonny Lyons was tagged with the loss giving up three runs on six hits and two walks.
Pierre drops to 8-25 on the season and will wrap up the regular season on Saturday when they face Brandon Valley in a doubleheader. Coverage will start at 11:45 with first pitch at 12:00 on KCCR and on YouTube at KCCR Sports with Jon Winkler on the call.
