The Fulton Hornets lost two games last week in two different, but equally disappointing, fashions.
After no-hitting Kirskville but still losing 3-2 last Thursday and then squandering a six-run lead in a 7-6 loss to North Callaway on Friday, Fulton head coach Darren Masek was looking for a bounce-back performance from the Hornets.
And it might not have been in the sterling style Masek would have liked, but the Hornets dispatched Moberly 9-3 for their first North Central Missouri Conference win of the season Tuesday night.
Fulton evened its season record at 3-3 and is now 1-2 in the NCMC.
Junior Austin Harrison (2-1) was the winning pitcher for the Hornets, going three innings and striking out five while giving up two hits and two unearned runs.
"I'm glad we bounced back from having two devestating losses in 24 hours," Masek said. "I don't feel like we played our best baseball, but we found a way to win."
Four Fulton pitchers combined to walk nine Moberly batters, but the Hornets capitalized on two key innings at the plate to earn the victory. After taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning, Fulton added four runs in the third with some key base hits.
Senior right fielder Nick Christensen went 2-for-2 with his lone RBI coming in the third inning when he drove in senior center fielder Ryan Fritz on a single down the third-base line.
Freshman shortstop Dalton Horstmeier had the first of his three RBI in the same inning with a single to score Christensen. Horstmeier went 2-for-3 and supplied a two-run double in the seventh.
"We were a bit sloppy and generous on the day, giving up runs," Masek said. "It wasn't a cleanly played game but we had one good inning to help us get the win."
The Hornets (4-2) lost the JV game 2-1.
Fulton hosts NCMC and Highway 54 rival Mexico at 5 p.m. Thursday at Hensley Field.
North Callaway baseball (V)........11
Bowling Green...............................2
BOWLING GREEN - Junior shortstop Zack Lavy had four hits, including three triples, as the Thunderbirds dismantled the Bobcats on Tuesday night.
Holding a narrow 3-2 lead after once trailing by two runs, North Callaway broke the game open with a five-run outburst in the fifth inning. Senior catcher Zac Kee delivered the big hit in the inning with a two-run single.
The Thunderbirds secured the win by tacking on three runs in the sixth, raising their season record to 6-0. Bowling Green, which scored both of its runs in the first, tumbled to 0-5.
Lavy went 4-for-4 with a double and scored three runs as North Callaway assembled a 12-hit attack.
"Zack did a good job of adjusting to the way they were pitching to him," Thunderbirds head coach Kevin O'Neal said. "He's a solid player and a good leader for our team."
Sophomore winning pitcher Justin Murphy supported his own cause by going 2-for-4 with two runs batted in. Senior Grant Cundiff - who started the game in left field and then pitched the final two innings in relief of Murphy - was also 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two runs scored. Sophomore third baseman Vance Allen went 2-for-4.
"It took us a couple of innings to get adjusted, but then we did a good job of being patient," O'Neal said.
Murphy started for North Callaway and went five innings to improve his season record to 2-0. He allowed two runs - one earned - on just two hits, struck out three and walked one.
"Justin did a very good job of hitting his spots," O'Neal said.
The Thunderbirds host Mid-Missouri Conference foe Hallsville at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Kelley guides Hornets golf
team to triangular triumph
OSAGE BEACH - Fulton followed its one-stroke win in Monday's Callaway Cup with a triangular win over School of the Osage and Lincoln at Dogwood Hills Golf Club on Tuesday.
The Hornets compiled a 174 team total, with senior Jordan Kelley taking home medalist honors with his score of 40. Osage finished second with a 182 and Lincoln was third with a 203.
Junior JoeRyan Anderson was next with a 43 for Fulton, followed closely by junior Glen Ripsch's 44. Freshman Kory Masek also shot a 47 for the Hornets.
"We got a little better and we finally had a day that was warm," Fulton head coach Pat Kelley said. "Overall I was pleased and if we can keep it up, we'll be OK."
The Hornets host New Bloomfield and Linn at Tanglewood Golf Course at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Missouri Military Academy............5
Fulton boys' tennis (V)...................4
The visiting Colonels edged the Hornets by pulling out a victory at No. 1 doubles Tuesday night.
The No. 1 doubles team of Alejandro Macias and Rod Delgadillo fought past Fulton sophomore Josh Hurt and sophomore Scott Strough 11-10 (2) to lift MMA to the team win.
The loss dropped the Hornets to 1-4 on the season.
"Our kids were playing really strong and I was impressed with that," Fulton head coach Louis Schnoebelen said. "They know that's what I want from them. They knew they had a tall order going in, but they didn't quit.
"They played their best but fell a little short."
Here are the rest of Tuesday night's singles and doubles results:
•No. 1 singles: Macias (MMA) defeated Hurt (F) 10-5; No. 2: senior Sean Flynn (F) def. Jorge Aguilar (MMA) 10-8; No. 3: senior Kody Renner (F) def. Alonso Decosio (MMA) 10-6; No. 4: Strough (F) def. Delgadillo (MMA) 10-6; No. 5: Calvin Heintz (MMA) def. sophomore Phillip Barkho (F) 10-3; No. 6: Landon Smalley (MMA) def. junior Ryan Baysinger (F) 10-5.
•No. 2 doubles: Aguilar/Decosio (MMA) def. Flynn/Baysinger (F) 10-4; No. 3: Renner/Barkho (F) def. Heintz/Smalley (MMA) 10-4.
The Hornets host a North Central Missouri Conference matchup against Moberly at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
Quincy University..........................7
Westminster tennis (M).................2
QUINCY, Ill. - The Blue Jays watched their six-match winning streak come to an end in Monday's loss to the NCAA Division II Hawks.
Junior David Berry and sophomore Anthony Becker recorded singles wins for Westminster College (8-4).
The Blue Jays host St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent Principia (Ill.) College at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Quincy University..........................9
Westminster tennis (W).................0
QUINCY, Ill. - The Lady Blue Jays suffered their second loss in three matches Monday when they were shut out by the NCAA Division II Lady Hawks.
On Tuesday, Westminster College's Sarah Heeter was named the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's tennis player of the week for March 28-April 3.
Heeter - a freshman from Columbia (Rock Bridge) - went 4-0 at No. 1 singles against SLIAC competition last week and was 2-2 at No. 1 doubles with junior partner Megan Slayton.
Heeter is the first Lady Blue Jays player this season to earn the weekly conference recognition.
Westminster plays a SLIAC home match against Principia (Ill.) College at 4 p.m. Friday.