The Eureka baseball team faced Yates Center in a doubleheader on Thursday, May 7, for their final home games of the season.
Eureka lost 5-20 before rallying in game two to cap off the evening with an exciting 16-14 win over the Wildcats.
In the opener, Yates Center capitalized on Eureka miscues to pull away early. Despite the loss, freshman Dylan Conard powered the Tornado offense with four RBIs on two hits, including an in-park grand slam.
The Wildcats jumped ahead in the first inning and steadily added to their lead before erupting for 11 runs in the fourth inning. Eureka finished with six hits but committed 11 errors defensively.
Seniors Haden Allen and Davian Damron shared pitching duties for the Tornadoes.
Eureka responded in game two with one of its strongest offensive performances of the season, collecting 13 hits in the 16-14 win.
Junior Tristan Milner paced the Tornadoes with four RBIs and four hits, including key run-scoring singles in the second, third and fourth innings. Freshman Tate Scott also recorded four hits, while junior Cooper Roberson added three hits in the victory.
After trailing 3-8 in the third inning, Eureka answered with a six-run fourth inning to regain the lead. Yates Center rallied back in the fifth and the Tornadoes trailed 13-14, but the Tornadoes responded once more in the sixth inning.
Scott delivered a goahead RBI single, Roberson followed with a run-scoring double, and Eureka added another run on a dropped third strike to secure the lead for good.
Milner earned the win in relief, tossing a scoreless inning and striking out one. Scott started on the mound and struck out six over four innings.
Eureka traveled to Fre-donia on Monday as the Tornadoes concluded their regular season schedule.
The Tornadoes will play in the opening round of regional action on Thursday, May 14, in Moran, at 5 p.m. Eureka (#15/4-15) will face Marmaton Valley (#2/175).
