By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
The Southeast of Saline baseball team completed their third league sweep of the season on Tuesday, defending their new home turf from the Ellsworth Bearcats.
Game One: SE of Saline 3, Ellsworth 1
The opener was a pitchers' duel from start to finish, with Ellsworth scratching across their lone run in the top of the first before being silenced for the final six innings.
SES meanwhile, managed to plate a run in the second, another in the third, and one more in the sixth to secure a critical, late-season victory.
While both teams managed five hits in this game, Southeast made more of their opportunities, with Lyrik Lilley driving in the lone RBI of the day for the Trojans.
On the hill, Killian Vaughan and Lyrik Lilley combined to prevent a single earned run from coming across, allowing just five hits and striking out seven in the win.
Game Two: SE of Saline 12, Ellsworth 2
The nightcap saw more of the same, with Ellsworth’s early 1-0 lead quickly erased by a two-run first for Southeast.
This time, the Bearcats would tie it up in the top of the third, but two Trojan runs in the fourth and an eight-run outburst in the sixth would put the game, and the series, to bed early.
SES looked much more confident at the plate this time around, with Grady Gebhardt, Sam Knopf, and Landon Albrecht all recording multi-hit games, and Knopf driving in 4 of the 11 runs himself.
On the bump, Kayson Bertrand was spectacular, allowing just one earned run on four hits, walking two, and striking out two in a complete-game effort.
With this win, the Trojans are now 12-6 overall and 7-1 in league play, while Ellsworth slides to 7-12 and 3-5 respectively.
SES could still steal the NCAA title out from under Sacred Heart (10-2) if they can win their final four league games against Lyons and Beloit.
Updated NCAA Standings
1. SE of Saline (7-1)
2. Sacred Heart (10-2)
3. Lyons (7-3)
4. Beloit (5-3)
5. Ellsworth (3-5)
6. Minneapolis (2-10)
7. Republic County (0-10)