Rangers Roll Past Lobos For Another Win

The hot bats kept it going for the Laramie Rangers, who blew out Wheatland 16-2 Wednesday night at Cowboy Field.

Laramie (27-22) won for the eighth time in their last nine games and move a season-best five games over five-hundred.

Manager Brandon Ruckman was pleased that his squad played at a fairly consistent level throughout the victory.

“With players in different positions and they’re trading out, I felt like they still were able to remain focused and still play to their level. We were still running bases, taking bigger leads than we’ve taken in the past, taking advantage of mistakes, so they did the right things.”

To back up Ruckman’s point, Laramie capitalized on seven Wheatland errors, five walks, six hit batters and six stolen bases.

The Rangers jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first two innings. They allowed two Lobos runs in the third. Laramie got one back in the fourth and capped it with three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. The 9-inning game was shortened to six-and-a-half innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Matt Smith and Ramon Gomez had RBI hits in the first inning, while the Rangers took advantage three Wheatland errors for a 4-0 lead. The five-run second inning was highlighted by a three-run double to right-center field by Logan Pickard.

Blake Moore added a pair of RBI hits in the fifth and sixth inning, while David Coulthard provided a pinch-hit RBI-triple in the sixth.

Laramie’s 12-hits attack included five extra-base hits. There were four doubles and a triple. Four Rangers had two hits apiece, while Moore and Pickard had three RBI’s each.

Ruckman said the bats have really been coming alive lately.

“(We’re) seeing some of those bigger sticks in our lineup, and they’ve been getting those extra-base hits. David (Coulthard) came in and had a triple. Reid’s (Baty) been on a terror lately. Blake (Moore), we can always count on him for a couple of hits. Bottom of the lineup, they’ve been putting the ball in play. I think their approaches, they’re anticipating strikes, and they’re doing all the right things.”

Ruckman’s hoping they can continue this through the end of the season.

Reston Morehouse was the starting pitcher and got his first win of the season. He was one of five pitchers Laramie used in the victory.

This game marked the fourth straight mercy-rule victory for the Rangers and fifth in the last six games.

Ruckman said it’s great.

“We’ve been saving a lot of pitching. We’ve been doing all the right things. You know, we just need to bring it on Sunday.”

Ruckman was referring to the start of conference play. The Rangers will face the Troopers in a doubleheader at Sheridan. It will be Sunday starting at 5 p.m. from Thorne-Rider Stadium.