HUMBOLDT — A late rally fell short for Humboldt High’s baseball team Tuesday in the first game of their doubleheader against Cherryvale, losing 7-5.
The visiting Chargers then made sure to eliminate any sort of drama in the second contest, finishing off the sweep with an 11-1 romp.
The defeats drop the Cubs to 7-8 on the season.
“Sam Hull was really good on the mound in game 1 and we played better defensively,” Humboldt head coach Mike Miller said. “We just left too many runners on base in key situations.”
Humboldt scored three runs in the bottom of the third to cut into a 4-0 deficit. The Chargers then tacked on an insurance run in the fourth and two more in the seventh to lead, 7-3.
Humboldt rallied for two in the bottom of the inning, but could draw no closer.
Hull pitched into the seventh inning, surrendering seven hits and two earned runs with three strikeouts. Gavin Page retired two batters in relief, one via strikeout.
Hull also had two of Humboldt’s three hits, including a triple. Page added a single.
Cub batters forced five walks in the contest.
CHERRYVALE opened the second game with a nine-run first inning.
“They put a lot of balls in play that found holes, and we made some errors that certainly didn’t help,” Miller said. “I thought Evan (Lucke) really bounced back and gave us some good innings after the first.”
Lucke took the loss, and was victimized by seven Humboldt errors in the game. He allowed four hits over his three innings of work. Page pitched two hitless innings, striking out four.
Hull had Humboldt’s only hit, a single.
Humboldt will travel to Crest for a pair of games Monday to replace a canceled doubleheader at Waverly/Lebo.
