Bobcats Split High-Scoring Doubleheader at State Fair

Game 1 — Frontier 27, State Fair CC 8

Coming off of a doubleheader sweep against State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Missouri Thursday afternoon, the Bobcats returned to the field to take on the Roadrunners in another doubleheader the next day. Frontier stayed hot at the plate in the opener, erupting for 27 runs on 21 hits to overpower State Fair.

Gael Salinas led the offensive barrage with two home runs and five RBIs, going deep in both the first and second innings.

Frontier jumped on the board early in the first when Kasey Lowe singled home a run, Salinas launched a two-run homer to right, and Justin Early added an RBI single. The Bobcats broke the game open in the second, plating 10 runs to build a 14-0 cushion. Highlights of the inning included a three-run triple by Jordan Carter and Salinas' second two-run blast of the day.

State Fair responded with seven runs in the bottom of the second, powered by home runs from Jose Arquez and Devin Wassmann, but Frontier continued to pour it on. The Bobcats added runs in the third and erupted again in the fifth with six more runs, capped by RBI hits from Early, Grady Combs, Salinas, and Sean McConachie.

Johnny Lee earned the win for Frontier, allowing five runs on two hits over 1.1 innings. Kaelin Farr provided a scoreless relief appearance.

At the plate, Cam Napier, Justin Early, Gael Salinas, and Kasey Lowe each collected three hits. Mayes Gosser and Sean McConachie added multi-hit games as the Bobcats drew 10 walks, stole four bases, and played error-free defense. Arquez led State Fair with four RBIs.

Game 2 — State Fair CC 12, Frontier 11

The nightcap turned into a thriller, but the Bobcats came up just short in a 12-11 walk-off loss. With the score tied at 11 in the bottom of the eighth, Jake Kruse delivered the game-winning single for the Roadrunners.

Frontier came out swinging in the first, scoring five runs on RBI efforts from Gael Salinas, Cam Napier, Garrett Schmidt (two-run single), and a run-scoring fielder's choice. The Bobcats extended the lead to 6-4 in the second on an RBI single by Mayes Gosser and made it 7-4 in the third on Josh French's sacrifice fly.

State Fair rallied in the seventh, scoring seven runs — the big blow a grand slam to left by Casen Lett — to seize momentum.

Despite the loss, Frontier totaled 12 hits. Garrett Schmidt paced the offense with four RBIs while going 3-for-5. Josh French and Schmidt each recorded three hits, while Justin Early and Mayes Gosser had multi-hit games. The Bobcats showed patience at the plate with nine walks and were aggressive on the bases with seven stolen bases, including three by French.

On the mound, Aaron Buffington delivered four scoreless innings in relief. Seth Harris was charged with the loss. Kaelin Farr made the start for Frontier.

State Fair finished with 13 hits, led by Dayton Doll's four-hit performance and three hits from Malachi Antle.