Baseball Drops Doubleheader to Dodge City in Home Finale

COLBY, Kan. - The Colby Trojans baseball squad closed out their home schedule on Wednesday (April 29) with a pair of hard-fought conference matchups against Dodge City, but came up short in both ends of the doubleheader. In two games filled with momentum swings and plenty of power at the plate, Colby showed offensive firepower but ultimately couldn't overcome late surges from the Conquistadors, falling in both contests.

Game 1

Colby dropped game 1 to Dodge City, 8-5, in a game that featured multiple lead changes before Dodge City pulled away late.

Dodge City struck first in the opening inning, using an RBI single from Ben Longoria to take an early 1-0 lead. Colby responded immediately in the bottom half, as Charlie Langford lifted a sacrifice fly to tie the game before Turner Zdunich launched a solo home run to left, giving the Trojans a 2-1 advantage.

Colby added to its lead in the third inning when Jake Brooks connected on a solo home run to left field, extending the margin to 3-1. However, Dodge City answered in the fourth inning, capitalizing on a triple from Hunter Morgan and a two-run home run by Cameron Stukenborg to jump back in front, 4-3.

The Trojans weren't done, reclaiming the lead in the bottom of the fourth. An error by Dodge City allowed one run to score, and Matt Murray followed with an RBI single down the left field line to push Colby back on top, 5-4.

Dodge City evened things up again in the fifth inning with another RBI single from Longoria, tying the game at 5-5. The Conquistadors then delivered the decisive blow in the sixth, as Jonah Andrade doubled in the go-ahead run before Jordi Guerrero added a two-run home run to center field, giving Dodge City the lead they would not relinquish.

Offensively, Colby totaled 10 hits on the day, with Jacob Mraz, Matthew Kesting, Matt Murray, and Zdunich each recording two hits. Zdunich and Brooks provided the power with solo home runs, while Langford, Murray, Thomson, Brooks, and Zdunich each drove in a run. Despite the production, the Trojans left 15 runners on base, limiting their ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

On the mound, Rory MacDonald got the start for Colby, allowing five runs on eight hits over five innings while striking out two. Dallen Rude took the loss in relief, surrendering three runs over the final two innings.

Dodge City finished with 11 hits, led by Longoria, Morgan, and Angel Vazquez, who each collected two hits. Longoria, Stukenborg, and Guerrero each drove in two runs, while the Conquistadors also applied pressure on the bases with four stolen bases.

Game 2

Colby then battled through a high-scoring nightcap but ultimately fell to Dodge City, 11-7, in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader.

Despite five home runs and 10 hits from the Trojans' offense, a decisive eighth inning from Dodge City proved to be the difference.

Dodge City wasted no time getting on the board, using a three-run first inning highlighted by a two-run home run from Preston Harrison to jump out to an early lead. Colby answered in the bottom half when Matthew Kesting launched a solo home run to right field, trimming the deficit to 3-1.

The Conquistadors extended their lead in the third inning, capitalizing on traffic on the bases to push two more runs across and make it 5-1. Colby responded again, this time with Matt Murray delivering a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the inning to keep the Trojans within striking distance.

After Dodge City added a solo home run from Jordi Guerrero in the sixth to go up 6-2, Colby put together its best offensive inning of the game. Kesting sparked the rally with his second home run of the day, a solo shot to right, before Charlie Langford followed with a solo blast of his own. Later in the inning, Callum Thomson delivered an RBI single to cap a three-run frame, pulling the Trojans within one at 6-5.

However, Dodge City delivered the knockout blow in the eighth inning. Bynum Martinez crushed a three-run home run to left field, and Harrison followed later in the inning with another two-run shot, stretching the lead to 11-5.

Colby continued to fight, adding two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Anthony Deblois hit a solo home run to left field, and Jake Brooks drove in another run with a single, but the late push wasn't enough to overcome the deficit.

Kesting led the offensive effort for the Trojans, going 2-for-5 with two home runs and two RBI. Langford also recorded a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-5 with a home run and an RBI. Murray and Deblois each added solo home runs, while Thomson chipped in an RBI. In total, Colby's five home runs accounted for the bulk of their scoring.

On the mound, Isaiah Sadorus took the loss, allowing five runs over three innings while walking five. Carter Graham provided relief, throwing 4.1 innings and allowing six runs on eight hits. Turner Zdunich closed out the game, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

Dodge City totaled 13 hits, with Martinez leading the way with three hits and three RBI. Harrison delivered a game-high five RBI on two home runs, while Guerrero added two hits and a home run of his own. Longoria also contributed with two hits and three runs scored.

Despite the results, the Trojans demonstrated offensive firepower throughout the doubleheader, combining for 20 hits and six home runs across the two games. Missed opportunities and late-inning rallies by Dodge City proved costly in both contests. With the home slate now complete, Colby will look to regroup and carry that offensive momentum onto the road as they close out the regular season Friday (May 1) in Dodge City.