The Allen Red Devils’ nearly three-week losing streak came to an end as the Red Devils split Thursday’s doubleheader with the Labette Cardinals.
Allen took the opener 13-2 before the Cardinals took the finale 7-5.
The Red Devils hope to make more inroads on the Jayhawk Conference when they host Labette for another doubleheader Saturday.
Although picking up the win, freshman lefty Miller Tavaglione let his defense do much of the heavy lifting in the opener with one strikeout over five innings while holding the Cardinals scoreless and allowing three walks.
A five-run first inning set the tone, before the Red Devils added two runs in the third and fourth, and then three runs in the sixth to snap their eight-game slide 13-2. Sophomore outfielder Krue Lowe had a team-leading five RBIs, followed by sophomore second baseman Nicky Morettto and freshman designated hitter Jace Arnold with three each.
The Red Devils fell in the finale with freshman Lincoln Upham taking the loss while freshman reliever Keaton Hartman and sophomore reliever Manuel Toro tied for the team lead in strikeouts with two each.
The trio of pitchers kept Allen in contention, but a three-run Cardinal fifth inning and a two-run seventh proved too much for Allen to overcome after its four-run ninth-inning rally fell short.
Lowe finished the day with a team-leading four RBIs, followed by Arnold, Moretto and sophomore third baseman Logan Martin, who had one each.
Following Thursday’s contests the Red Devils are 12-29 overall and eighth in the Jayhawk Conference standings at 8-18. They could make headway with a pair of wins while hosting Labette (12-28, 9-17) for Saturday’s doubleheader.
First pitches for Saturday’s doubleheader are 1 and 3 p.m.
