Box Score Highland baseball took to the diamond Tuesday afternoon for the first time Highland Community ballpark this season and were eager to put the Butler series in the rear view mirror but North Central Missouri proved to be a tough opponent.

It was tough sledding for the Scotties from the start as Highland fell behind and ultimately was unable to get things going falling 13-3 in seven innings to North Central Missouri.

Highland found themselves before their bats came off their shoulders as North Central Missouri batted around in the top of the first and tagged the Scotties for three runs and then added three more in the top of the second to make it 6-0. The lead grew for North Central with another run in the third and fourth innings and four more in the fifth making it 12-0.

Scotties after spoiling a scoring opportunity in the second inning that included a leadoff double by Alejandro Pina were able to get some runs in the fifth. Robert McKinley led the fifth off by reaching on an error and that was followed by a pair of singles with Jaeden Rodriguez getting an RBI single and Jacob Selock brought in the other run in the inning on an RBI groundout. Highland added another run in the sixth using three hit batters and a walk consecutively but North Central answered with a run in the top of the seventh and the Scotties were unable to score in the bottom of the seventh ending the game via run-rule at 13-3 in seven innings.

Offensively the Scotties just four hits on the day but did manage six free passes, but North Central countered with 12 hits and 12 free passes. Cade Medelllin on the day went 1-1 with a run scored, walk and hit by pitch, while Rodriguez, Pina and Selock each had a hit also.

On the mound Stephen Keech got the start tossing two innings of work giving up six runs, while Drake Seetin and Solomon Rainey each saw action also. Roddy Pena finished the game tossing the final two innings giving up one run on two hits, two walks and hit batter, while striking out three.

The loss drops the Scotties to 6-7 on the season as they now turn their attention to opening Conference play on Thursday, March 5^th at home against Coffeyville.