Highland baseball coming off three wins last week look to bring some momentum into this week with a clash against Cloud County on Tuesday before a KJCCC series with Labette.

The Scotties played well in the matchup against Cloud County but fell in a heartbreaker losing 9-8 as Cloud County scored five runs in the ninth to take the win.

After working around two scoring opportunities by Cloud County in the first and second inning and holding the Thunderbirds off the scoreboard the Scotties fell behind in the contest in the top of the third as Cloud County blasted a two-run home run. Highland had an answer and it was big in the bottom of the third inning as the Scotties scored four runs to take the 4-3 lead. Behind a walk, single and walk the Scotties loaded the bases in the third and Nick Schifftner drew a walk with the bases loaded to bring in the first Highland run. Brendon Bond then delivered a three RBI single to give the Scotties the lead in the third.

A leadoff double by Jason Gonzalez in the fourth inning ultimately led to another Highland run as Schifftner brought him in on a sac fly and Highland pushed the lead out further with two runs in the fifth on two walks and two singles making it 7-2.

Cloud County pushed across two runs in the sixth inning but the Scotties got one back in the eight on a Alejandro Pina RBI single that scored Avery Miller who reached on an error making 8-4 entering the ninth inning. In the ninth Cloud County put together four hits all doubles, with two walks and a hit batter and plated five runs to take a 9-8 lead. The Scotties would be unable to get anything going in the bottom of the ninth and fell 9-8.

In the loss both teams used a multitude of pitchers as six Scottie hurlers saw action in the contest with Justin Rieschick and Drake Seetin highlighting the outings. Rieschick started the game and tossed one and two-thirds innings giving up no runs on three hits, a hit batter and struckout two, while Seetin tossed two and two-thirds of relief and did not give up a run allowing just one hit and struckout two.

Offensively Pina finished 4-5 with a run scored and RBI, while Victor Sanchez had two hits and a run scored. Gonzalez continued his solid performances recently going 1-3 with two runs scored, a double, RBI and two walks, while Bond finished 1-2 with three RBI's, run scored and two walks.

The loss sends the Scotties to 5-33 on the season as they now turn their attention to a KJCCC four-game set with Labette later this week as they will host on Thursday, April 18^th and then travel to Parsons on Saturday, April 20^th.