(Anita) Cade Ticknor’s two run double broke a 5-5 tie and Lane Spieker’s 3-run homer ballooned the final margin as CAM defeated Exira-EHK 10-5 on Wednesday.
The Cougars overcame a 5-3 deficit to notch their 10th win of the year. Every starter had a hit or an RBI in the comeback win. CAM jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Joe Kauffman singled and scored on a Colby Rich base hit in the 1st while Seth Hensley doubled and came in on Jack Follmann’s groundout in the 2nd.
The Spartans threatened to score in the 2nd inning, but things fizzled out in an awkward manner. With the bases loaded, a pitch behind a batter hit the bat and instead of going foul, it rolled into fair territory. Pitcher Lane Spieker tossed to the plate for one out and catcher Ethan Follmann fired to first for an inning ending double play. They did get on the board in the 3rd. Trey Petersen reached on an error while Tyler Kingery had a hit and Hunter Andersen drove in a run with a single. This tied the game at 2-2.
CAM responded with a run in the bottom of the frame to lead 3-2. Connor McKee and Joe Kauffman had back-to-back singles to start the inning. McKee scored on a balk.
Exira-EHK used two free passes and two hits to score three times in the 4th. It put the visitors in front for the first time in the game. For a second straight frame they sent seven batters to the plate. This time around five straight reached with two outs. Trey Petersen doubled, Tyler Kingery singled, Tyler Petersen was hit by a pitch, Dane Paulsen walked, and Hunter Andersen singled.
CAM tied it in the bottom of the 4th when Ethan Follmann doubled followed by a Seth Hensley RBI single. Hensley scored on Brody Paulsen’s groundout.
In the home half of the 5th inning Lane Spieker reached on a chopper to third base and Colby Rich walked. In stepped Cade Ticknor who uncorked a double down the left field line putting CAM in front 7-5.
CAM added to it with Lane Spieker’s homer to straight away center in the 6th. Brody Paulsen and Joe Kauffman touched home plate along with Spieker to make it a 10-5 game.
The Cougars used three pitchers in the game. Spieker went 5+ innings and gave up four hits, three walks, and hit four batters. Colby Rich went 1 2/3 and Chase Spieker got the final out. Tyler Kingery takes the loss for Exira-EHK. Kingery and Andersen combined for four of the Spartan’s five hits.
10-1 CAM travels to Lenox Thursday. 5-5 Exira-EHK will take on Panorama next.