By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
The Southeast of Saline baseball team held on for a sweep of Sacred Heart on Tuesday, improving to 8-2 and remaining perfect in league play.
Game 1: SE of Saline 13, Sacred Heart 2
The first of this two-game set saw an unexpectedly comfortable win for the Trojans, who turned 11 hits into 13 runs in a five-inning shortened contest.
Tiernan Ptacek quieted the Knights' lineup, surrendering just two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four.
At the dish, eight of the nine spots in the order recorded a hit, with six driving in at least one run.
The Trojans scratched across three runs in the first, two in the second, three in the third, and five in the fifth to secure the mercy margin.
Ptacek helped his own cause at the plate, finishing the day a perfect 3 for 3 with a walk and 3 RBI.
Grady Gebhardt and Jackson Calvin each produced multi-RBI games as well, driving in a pair each to help secure the early victory.
Game 2: SE of Saline 7, Sacred Heart 5
The nightcap was the closer battle that many in both communities expected, with the two sides going back and forth in a full seven-inning affair.
This time, it was Sacred Heart’s turn to strike first, as the Knights notched two runs in the first and another in the third to hold a 3-0 edge entering the fourth.
Southeast wasted no time undoing the damage with three of their own in the fourth, and after the teams traded a pair apiece in the fifth, things sat level at 5-5 going into a pivotal sixth inning.
After holding the Knights scoreless in the top half of the inning, Burton Brooks wore a pitch to open the home half of the sixth with a runner on base.
Brooks stole second, advanced to third on a line drive, and scored on a passed ball to break the deadlock before a Tiernan Ptacek single drove in an insurance run to push the Trojan lead to two.
Kayson Bertrand tossed a strong six innings, striking out nine and walking just two before turning the ball over to Brooks, who slammed the door shut, recording three outs in four batters faced to officially secure the win for SES.
Once again Ptacek looked sharp at the plate, recording the lone multi-hit game of the day, driving in a run and scoring two more himself.
With this doubleheader sweep, Southeast improves to 8-2 while Sacred Heart slides to 7-3.
The Trojans are back in action on Thursday as they host the Chapman Irish. Sacred Heart returns to league play on Friday as they travel to battle Republic County.
Both games of this doubleheader are available on-demand any time below.