Hastings Sodbusters Edge Past Renegades in 10‑8 DBL Thriller
The Hastings Sodbusters secured a 10‑8 victory over the Jefferson City Renegades on Tuesday night, ending the Renegades’ eight‑game stretch without a win in the Diamond Baseball League.
From the outset, the two clubs traded early blows, each plating three runs in the first inning and adding two more in the third to knot the score at five.
AJ Evans sparked the Renegades with a two‑run triple, while JJ Contreras answered for Hastings with a bases‑clearing triple that swung momentum.
Brady Retone added an RBI bloop single in the third, and Bryce Andersen followed with an RBI double, helping the Sodbusters build a modest edge.
The Renegades rallied in the top of the sixth, tying the contest at eight and setting the stage for a decisive finish.
Hastings answered in the bottom of the sixth, with Bryce Andersen and Carter Guiton delivering RBI singles that put the Sodbusters ahead for good.
Relief efforts from Cooper Jegen and Tanner Hallmark kept the Renegades at bay, while Nolan DeMilia’s early start was marred by six walks and three strikeouts.
Key Performances and Turning Points
Andersen finished with two hits and three RBI, while Contreras also contributed two hits and three RBI, anchoring the Sodbusters’ offense.
Conner Flieg was the only Renegade with multiple hits, driving in two runs, but the team could not capitalize on the tying run left on base in the eighth.
The combined efforts of the pitching staff, including DeMilia, Jegen and Hallmark, highlighted the volatile nature of the league, with both teams showcasing resilience and the ability to strike at crucial moments.
With the win, Hastings improves to 16‑19, while Jefferson City falls to 11‑18, and the two clubs will meet again tonight at 7 p.m. to wrap up the three‑game series.