Tigers triumphant against Jacks

Ephrata takes first in CWAC after sweeping Quincy

EPHRATA — Thomas Bossert hit a grand slam for Ephrata in the bottom of the third in game two of their doubleheader against Qunicy Saturday.

Kevin Sieverkropp had been walked to get on and was advanced by a single to center from Michael Ratigan. Then Reid Forrest was walked to load the bases for Bossert.

Bossert's hit gave the Tigers a commanding 13-2 lead over the Jacks and made the already exuberant crowd ecstatic. The slam also marked the last runs scored in the inning for Ephrata.

In the top of the fourth Max Melburn hit a line single for Quincy to get on base. Melburn was advanced to third by a walk for Colby Melburn and a wild pitch that hit Kevin Hill.

Quincy's designated hitter Dan Somers was walked to earn an RBI when Max Melburn crossed the dish before the Jacks took the field on defense once again.

On Ephrata's first at bat of the fourth, Sieverkropp wore a pitch to take first. Ratigan had an infield single followed by a walk from Forrest to load the bases for the Tigers once again.

Sieverkropp was tagged out at the plate on the next single for Ephrata.

Aaron Bracht came lined up at the plate and was hit by a pitch to force Ratigan home.

Ephrata walked in one more run before Danny Grass hit a long single to center that drove in two runs to earn a 17-3 victory for the Tigers.

"It was a good day for us," said Ephrata head coach Dave Johnson. "Zach Aguirre is a good pitcher and we hit hard against him."

In the first game Ephrata had a pair of home runs, the first coming off of Forrest's bat in the bottom of the first.

Forrest got under a pitch from Quincy's Zach Aguirre and sent it over the fence in left-center field to bring in Ratigan and himself to give the Tigers an early 2-0 lead that would develop into a shut out.

Sieverkropp earned Ephrata's other homer in the bottom of the fourth, sending a long ball over the left field fence to make it 12-0.

Ephrata continued to hit well with the wind at their backs, taking advantage of the weather to earn 15 runs in the game.

The scoring began in earnest in the bottom of the third inning of the first game with Ephrata scoring seven runs.

"We had some big innings today," Johnson said. "I'm pleased with the way we're playing right now."

Ratigan and Forrest were walked in the one and two spots during the at bat for the Tigers. Bossert loaded the bases with a single.

Sieverkropp hit a line single just past short to drive in a run. Bossert was tagged out at second on the play giving the Tigers two outs.

Grass drove in Forrest on a line single to center and was driven home along with Sieverkropp on a single to right by Nathan Nash to make it 7-0.

Aaron Lutz earned a bunt double on a Quincy error and came home on a single from Derek Webb that also brought in Nash.

Forrest drove in the last run of the inning on a line double to center that sent Webb home.