Ellinwood baseball splits twin bill

ELLINWOOD – Once upon a time, the Ellinwood baseball Eagles would’ve never rallied facing a 6-0 deficit. But the new-and-improved Eagles rallied with a 7-run inning to surprise Salina Sacred Heart 7-6 in Friday’s opening doubleheader. The Knights won the second game 11-6.

EAGLES 7, KNIGHTS 6 (G1) – Chase Gibson’s single scored Cooper Gunn and Drake Hosman with the tying and winning runs in a 7-run sixth inning. Dylan Gantz doubled home Cooper Hosman to ignite the rally. Bryan Jaske tripled home Gibson and Gantz. Jaske stole home. Campbell Coleman scored on an error. Gibson’s single off reliever Adrian Panuco gave the Eagles the lead.

Ellinwood reliever Gantz (1-0) worked 22/3 innings and struck out four batters.

Sacred Heart’s Jett Samuelson tripled and drove home three runs.

KNIGHTS 11, EAGLES 6 (G2) – Hot-hitting Evan Bogart tripled twice, doubled, scored four runs and drove home three runs to spark the Knights. The Knights trailed 3-0 and 6-4, but scored seven runs in their final two at-bats. Ellinwood’s four errors led to five unearned runs. Ellinwood’s pitchers combined to walk 12 Sacred Heart batters.

Ellinwood’s Gibson scored on a passed ball and Gantz and Jaske scored on Brayden Williams’ single in a 3-run first inning. Gantz’s triple scored T Keith, Cooper Hosman and Gibson for a 6-4 lead.

But the Knights rallied with a tying 2-run fifth inning and clinching 5-run sixth inning.

Sacred Heart 100 140 0 – 6 10 1

Ellinwood 000 007 x – 7 4 1

Bogart, Panuco (5) and Rowe. Jaske, Coleman (4), Gantz (6) and Gantz. W—Gantz, 1-0. L—Panuco, 0-1. 2B—E—Gantz; SH—Bogart. 3B—E—Jaske; SH—Samuelson.

Sacred Heart 000 425 – 11 9 3

Ellinwood 300 300 – 6 7 4

Samuelson, Yohe (4) and Rowe. Cooper Hosman, Coleman (4), Gantz and Gantz. W—Yohe, 1-0. L—Coleman, 0-1. 2B—SH—Bogart. 3B—E—Gantz; SH—Bogart 2