MUSKEGON — Reeths-Puffer didn't fold after an early scoring burst by Zeeland West Wednesday, but the Rockets' late comeback fell short in an 8-5 defeat.
The visiting Dux scored six times in the first two innings, all unearned runs. R-P battled back to within 7-5 with a couple of two-run innings later in the game, but Zeeland West added an insurance run in the seventh inning and held on for the victory.
Trailing 7-5 in the sixth after a RBI double from Jack Yonkman and a run-scoring single by Brendan Guikema, the Rockets brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the form of their cleanup hitter Connor McManus. McManus worked a 3-1 count before Dux pitcher Dominic Szczerowski got him to fly out to end the scoring threat.
Zeeland West took advantage of R-P miscues to grab the early lead, scoring the first two runs of the game on a two-out error and adding a third on a wild pitch in the first inning. The Dux again benefited from an error in the second inning, taking advantage with back-to-back doubles and a single, each of which brought in a run.
The Rockets did get on the board in the bottom of the second when freshman third baseman Bentley Kops rapped a RBI single to left field with two outs. The Rockets nearly got a second run in on the play, but sophomore Tyler Scanlan was thrown out at home.
R-P got more offense going in the third, with Guikema bringing in a run on a single. R-P then loaded the bases with nobody out, but Szczerowski induced a double play, permitting a second Rocket run in the inning but limiting the damage.
For the game, Yonkman and Guikema each collected two hits to lead the Rocket bats. Guikema drove in two runs. Brayden Meuwenberg got a hit and drew two walks.
Guikema pitched four innings and allowed no earned runs on five hits, striking out five, before switching spots with his batterymate Yonkman, who threw three innings and allowed one earned run with four strikeouts.
