COLONY — The Crest Lancers snapped a five-game losing streak while splitting Tuesday’s doubleheader against Jayhawk-Linn.
After falling 7-5 in the opener, the Lancers held on for a 9-6 victory in the finale after senior shortstop Henry White turned a double-play to sit the Jayhawks during their final at-bat.
A shortfall in the early innings sunk Crest in the opener. Trailing by three runs in the opening frame, an RBI grounder by senior third baseman Jensen Barker put the Lancers on the scoreboard, then senior starting pitcher Drake Weir briefly tied the game 2-2 with an RBI grounder.
Jayhawk-Linn responded with three runs in the second inning for the final leadchange of the opener.
Crest tried to catch up with two runs in the third inning off senior outfielder Dalton Kersley grounder, which turned a pair of runs after an infield error. Freshman catcher Andrew Donovan plated a run in the sixth off an RBI grounder, but it was two runs shy of catching the Jayhawks.
Sophomore pitcher Koy Miller took the loss while allowing five runs on seven hits. Sophomore Will Disbrow came on in relief for a team-leading four strikeouts over three innings, holding the Jayhawks scoreless over three innings while allowing two hits and four walks.
Barker kept the scoreless streak going through the fifth while posting a strikeout and allowing a walk. Kersley and Weir had two hits each.
The Lancers would not be denied in the finale, getting back in the win column for the first time since splitting with Yates Center two weeks ago. Riding the arm of Weir, Crest jumped out to an early lead with runs in the first and second innings.
Disbrow put the Lancers on the scoreboard after reaching home on a wild pitch in the opening frame, then White gave Crest the lead with an RBI grounder in the second inning. In the third, an RBI single by sophomore second baseman Kole Walter tied the game 3-3 and a Kersley single was the final lead change of the evening.
In the fourth, White scored on a passed ball, then Crest poured on the runs on an RBI from Donovan. After Walter scored on a wild pitch in the sixth inning, followed by a Miller sacrifice fly, that was all Crest needed to pick up the win.
Walter ended the night as Crest’s leading hitter and most productive hitter while successful in 2 of 2 at-bats with a team-leading two RBIs. He also picked up the win on the mound with three strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings, holding Jayhawk-Linn hitless over two innings. Weir had a team-leading four strikeouts.
Following Tuesday’s split, the Lancers are 8-10 overall. They can even their record to 10-10 with a sweep Thursday over Uniontown.
First pitch is at 4:30 p.m. for the opener and tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. for the finale.
