Juniors Lose In Extras, Seniors Win In Shortened Game

The Neligh Juniors and Seniors made the trek to Creighton on Tuesday night to take on Creighton while dodging incoming storms.

The Juniors kicked off the night with a heartbreaking loss. Leading 6-5 heading into the final frame, Neligh gave up the tying run, sending the game to extra innings. In that extra inning, Kaleb Pofahl, who entered in relief of starter Beau Murray, hit the leadoff man Carson Lilly, putting the winning run on base. Lilly scored four batters later to give Creighton the win.

Earlier in the game, Neligh looked to have the game in hand. After Murray gave up two runs in the first and two in the third, the Junior offense gave him some help to take the lead. Hunter Charf scored in the second before Neligh took the lead in the fourth with four more runs. Jayden Arehart, Hunter Reestman, Charf and Austin Rice all scored on RBIs from Reestman and Cole Belitz. Reestman added one more run in the fifth to give Neligh it's final lead of the game.

Outside of the four early-game runs, Murray looked like an ace on the night in five innings of work. He recorded 10 strikeouts while allowing just four hits. Pofahl was strong as well, recording three more strikeouts and allowing just two hits.

Fortunately for the Seniors, they were able to avenge a Berry Pepper Days Tournament loss to Creighton in the late game. They took down the hosts 7-1 in a storm-shortened game.

The game started as a scoreless battle for the first four innings before Neligh was able to score off of pitcher Tyson Belitz to take a 1-0 lead. However, that would be all the worse it got for Neligh. In the top of the fifth, the Seniors plated four to take a 4-1 lead. Cole Belitz, Tyson Zegers, Clayton Anderson and Jordon Murray all scored to give Neligh a permanent lead. Murray and Tyson Belitz then scored again in the sixth on a two-RBI double by Chris Bentley. Bentley then came around for the final run of the game on a Zegers single before the game was called due to incoming weather.

Tyson Belitz went the distance, giving up five hits and striking out nine.