STURGIS, SD – The Sturgis Scooper baseball team used strong pitching and timely hitting to win both games of a doubleheader against the Rapid City Central Cobblers on Tuesday night at Strong Field.

In game one, Sturgis jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings and never relinquished the lead, cruising to a 4-2 win.

Brody Royer was stellar on the mound, striking out 15 batters on 93 pitches through six innings. The right-hander gave up three hits and two runs while walking one. Cael Pool came in on relief in the top of the seventh inning, earning the save. Asher Jackson took the loss for Rapid City Central.

Tate Johnson, Bridger Massa-Battin, and Jeren Andrzejewski combined for five of the Scoopers nine hits in the victory. The Cobblers finished with four hits in the loss.

In the nightcap, Massa-Battin scored on a Jace Thurman double in the second inning, giving Sturgis a 1-0 lead. The Scoopers took advantage of Cobbler mistakes, adding three more runs in the fourth inning to take a 4-0 advantage into the top of the fifth.

The Rapid City Central bats heated up in the top of the sixth inning, as the Cobblers plated three runs to cut into the Scooper lead. Sturgis answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning and led 6-3 heading into the seventh.

Right handed fireballer Tate Johnson came in as a relief pitcher for Sturgis in the top of the seventh, walking one and striking out three to earn the save. Sturgis took game two, 6-3 over Rapid City Central.

Easton Sabers threw a gem for the Scoopers, striking out 13 batters on 81 pitches. The lefty gave up five hits and no walks through six innings of work. Brody Pourier took the pitching loss for Central.

Sturgis (4-0) pounded out eight hits and were led by Royer and Jolley with two hits each. The Scoopers stole five bases and committed one error.

The Cobblers (2-4) had five hits and two errors in game two. Asher Jackson led Rapid City Central with two hits.

The Scoopers travel to Rapid City on Friday night to take on the Douglas Patriots at McKeague Field at 7pm.