Rangers Win a Pair of One-Run Games

The Laramie Rangers came back an eight day layoff and swept a home doubleheader against Gering, NE at Cowboy Field Monday.

The Rangers rallied in extra innings for a 9-8 victory in game one. They held off Gering for a 6-5 win in game two.

Laramie manager Brandon Ruckman said it was good to win both considering they threw the same pitchers that beat us in Nebraska last month.

“I felt like we were hitting the ball well today. I felt like a lot of hard hits, which definitely helped… overall I’m happy they made some adjustments. Obviously, defensively was a big issue the first game. The second game cleaned it up. I thought they did a great job of changing their mindset, letting it go and starting fresh.”

The Rangers won despite a 5-2 deficit and nine errors in the opener. A five-run sixth inning gave Laramie a 7-5 edge. They scored on a wild pitch, an RBI groundout and a pair of RBI-singles from Harrison Yates and Reid Baty. The Rangers also took advantage of two Gering errors.

Laramie gave their lead up, as Gering scored twice in the seventh for a 7-7 tie. The Rangers failed to get the winning run home from third base in the bottom of the seventh.

After Gering scored on three Laramie errors in the eighth inning, the Rangers rallied for victory. Cameron Campbell produced an RBI-single that tied it. After a walk, Marshall Stuart had the game-winning walk-off RBI-single that scored Campbell.

Harrison Yates led the offense with three hits, including a double, two RBI, a walk and a sacrifice bunt. Campbell pitched two innings in relief and was the winning pitcher.

In game two, Yates went the distance on the mound for the victory. He allowed five runs, only one earned on six hits. Yates walked three and struck out seven.

The Rangers scored three in the second, but Gering tied it with three in the fourth. Laramie pulled ahead on an error in the fifth. Stuart and Blake Moore had RBI-singles in the sixth inning that pushed the Rangers lead to 6-3. They gave up two in the seventh, but a groundout wrapped up the sweep.

Ruckman added they had, “Some timely hits, hit some gaps and running the bases… They (Gering) played it safe, and we played it pretty aggressive. It ended up working out.”

Moore led the offense with three hits and an RBI. They took advantage of four walks and three Gering errors.

Laramie heads to Wheatland Wednesday. What was originally scheduled for a doubleheader is now a single, 9-inning game at 5:30 p.m. KOWB will broadcast the game at 5:15 p.m. David Settle will call the action.