Baseball Earns Split with Seward County in Slugfest Saturday

COLBY, Kan. – Colby baseball closed out their four-game series against Seward County Saturday (April 4) with an offensive-heavy doubleheader, as the Trojans powered their way to a Game 1 victory before falling in a late-inning battle in Game 2 to earn a split on the day and in the series.

Game 1
The opener turned into an offensive showcase, with Colby erupting for 18 hits in a 15–11 win. After a scoreless first, the Trojans struck first in the second inning. Callum Thomson got things started with a solo home run to left field, later Charlie Langford followed in the inning with an RBI double down the right field line to give Colby a 2–0 lead.

Seward County answered in the top of the third, taking advantage of an error and stringing together hits to score four runs and jump ahead 4–2. But the momentum shift didn't last long.

In the bottom half of the inning, Colby delivered its biggest response of the game. The Trojans exploded for six runs on six hits, with Jacob Mraz, Matt Murray, and Chase Kessler all contributing base hits before Langford delivered the knockout swing, a three-run home run to right field that flipped the game and gave Colby an 8–4 lead.

Seward County continued to apply pressure, adding a run in the fourth and eventually tying the game in the fifth behind a series of clutch hits, making it 9–9. Once again, Colby responded immediately.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Trojans broke the game open for good, scoring six runs on five hits. Thomson came through with his second home run of the game, a two-run blast to left field that highlighted the inning and extended the lead to 15–9.

Langford turned in one of his best performances of the season, going 4-for-5 with five RBIs, including two doubles and a home run. Thomson matched the production with a 4-for-4 day, driving in three runs with two home runs. Mraz added three hits and scored twice, while Murray and Kessler each recorded two hits and combined for three RBIs.

On the mound, Anthony Deblois earned the win, working four innings while allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Trey Schroeder and Dallen Rude combined in relief, helping the Trojans navigate the final innings.

Game 2
The nightcap followed a similar offensive script, but this time Seward County delivered the decisive late surge, handing Colby a 14–10 loss in a back-and-forth contest.

After two scoreless innings, Seward County struck first in the third on a solo home run to take a 1–0 lead. Colby answered immediately in the bottom half, as Charlie Langford continued his hot day at the plate, launching a solo home run to right field to tie the game at 1–1.

The Trojans seized control in the fourth inning. Caden Clifford delivered a two-run home run to right field, giving Colby a 3–1 lead, and the offense capitalized on additional opportunities to extend the advantage to 4–1. Colby continued to build momentum in the middle innings. In the fifth and sixth, the Trojans added five more runs, highlighted by a three-run home run from Jacob Mraz in the sixth inning that pushed the lead to 10–6.

Tommy Mann gave Colby a strong start on the mound, allowing just one run on three hits over four innings while striking out four. However, Seward County chipped away against the bullpen, tying the game before delivering the decisive blow late. In the top of the eighth inning, Seward County broke through with six runs on four hits, turning a tight game into a 14–10 deficit. A three-run home run proved to be the biggest swing of the inning, capping the rally and putting the game out of reach.

Offensively, Colby continued its strong day at the plate, finishing with 13 hits. Mraz and Clifford each drove in three runs, with Mraz collecting two hits and scoring twice. Langford, Jake Brooks, Turner Zdunich, and Anthony Deblois all added multi-hit performances, as the Trojans showed depth throughout the lineup.

With the split, Colby now sits seventh in the conference standings at 5–15, while Seward County remains near the top, tied for third at 11–5. Despite the current position, the Trojans are well within striking distance as the schedule begins to shift in their favor. After opening conference play against some of the league's toughest competition, Colby now enters a critical stretch featuring matchups with Pratt, Garden City, and Dodge City, teams currently sitting in the bottom half of the standings. It presents a key opportunity for the Trojans to build momentum, climb the conference ladder, and position themselves for a strong finish. 

They return to action Tuesday (April 7) with non-conference action in Otero set for first pitch at 2 PM CST.