Grant Sommers delivered a monster performance at the plate Monday night, driving in five runs to lead the Spearfish Sasquatch to a 14-11 victory over the Casper Spuds at Black Hills Energy Stadium.
Sommers finished 3-for-5 with a double, a home run and five RBIs as the Sasquatch outslugged Casper in a game that featured 23 combined runs and 23 hits.
Casper struck first in the opening inning, taking a 3-0 lead behind a two-run double from David Denton and an RBI groundout by Stone Vacek.
The Sasquatch answered in the second, scoring four runs to move in front 4-3. Wilson Kieffer started the rally with an RBI single, while a Casper error, a Bo Iandoli groundout and a run-scoring single by Sommers each plated runs.
The Spuds briefly reclaimed the lead at 5-4 in the fourth inning when Cal Cosens drew a bases-loaded walk, but Spearfish responded with its biggest inning of the night.
The Sasquatch erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the fourth, turning a one-run deficit into an 11-5 advantage. Sommers delivered the key blow with a two-run double as Spearfish sent 12 batters to the plate during the inning.
Zach Pearrow added to the lead with a solo home run in the fifth before Sommers struck again in the sixth, launching a two-run homer to left field to cap his five-RBI night.
Spearfish collected 14 hits in the victory, led by Sommers and Jett Hutchinson with three hits apiece. Crew Moeller and Pearrow also produced multi-hit games.
The Sasquatch showed patience at the plate, drawing nine walks. Iandoli, Kieffer and Pearrow each worked two free passes.
Carter Doescher earned the win in relief, allowing two runs on two hits over two innings while striking out two. Starter Austin Oelke worked four innings, and Giovanni Casas recorded the save. Caleb Hoppe also appeared in relief.
Casper totaled nine hits, with Hunter Stonecipher leading the way by going 3-for-6. Denton, Vacek and Stonecipher each drove in two runs for the Spuds, who also drew 11 walks and stole four bases.
Brody Knight took the loss for Casper after allowing eight runs, five earned, over three innings.
The victory gives Spearfish momentum heading into Tuesday’s rematch, when the Sasquatch will again host the Spuds in the second game of the four-game home series.
