A five-run rally in the seventh inning of game one and another dominant performance on the mound from Gibson Russ in game two enabled the Grove Ridgerunners to sweep the Tulsa Washington Hornets and continue their undefeated start on Tuesday.
The Ridgerunners are now 7-0 overall after Tuesday’s wins, and are 5-0 in District 5A-3. The start is the best for Grove baseball since 2007, when they started 15-1 and were ranked No.1 in Class 4A.
With one out, Jake Spychalski and Benny Steffenson singled, followed by a walk by Ty Phillips to load the bases. Kody Stephenson followed with a single to score one run before Kaden Livermore struck the big blow two batters later, hitting a two-out triple to clear the bases and tie the score.
Gibson Russ then singled past second base to drive home Livermore with the game winner.
Livermore’s two-run single in the bottom of the second gave Grove its first lead of the night at 3-2. The Hornets, after scoring two in the top of the first, would get three more in the top of the third before Grove scored on a passed ball and a sacrifice fly by Ty Phillips to tie the game a second time.
Russ then took all the dramatics out of game two with his second complete game of the season, holding the Hornets to two runs (one earned) on two hits and four walks while striking out nine, upping his personal record to 3-0 on the season.
Grove got three runs in each of the first two innings off Washington starter Jordan Brewer. Livermore went 2-for-3 in game two with an RBI.
Ty Morrow got the win in relief in game one, pitching 1 2/3 innings without allowing a baserunner. Spychalski started game one and went 3 1/3 innings, giving up 6 runs (3 earned) on six hits. He also went 3-for-3 at the plate. Benny Steffenson went 4-for-4 at the plate in game one, scoring twice.
Livermore finished the day with six RBIs, five in game two, going 4-for-7 with a double and a triple.
The Ridgerunners will finish the week with home games against Gravette, Ark. (Thurs.) and Ketchum (Fri.) before travelling to Florida over Spring Break for a tournament in Pensacola Beach.
