Grossert's Two Home Runs Lifts Baseball

CRETE, Neb. – Doane's offense exploded with a pair of six-run innings and rode the dominant offensive performance to a 14-5 win over Hastings in the first game of the day Friday at the GPAC Baseball Tournament, forcing a winner-take-all bracket championship game later in the day.

With the victory, the Tigers improved to 42-9 and kept their championship hopes alive, setting up a decisive final against the Broncos.

Hastings struck first, plating three runs in the second inning to take an early 3-0 lead. Doane chipped away with single runs in the third and fourth before breaking the game open in the fifth.

The Tigers erupted for six runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Jett Grossart that gave Doane its first lead of the game. RBI hits from Jordan Bond, Max Harris and Carter Roth followed as Doane surged ahead 8-3.

Hastings briefly answered with a pair of solo home runs in the seventh to cut the deficit to 8-5, but Doane responded emphatically. Grossart launched his second home run of the game in the eighth, igniting another six-run inning that put the game out of reach.

Doane finished with 21 hits in the contest, led by Grossart's 5-for-6 day with two home runs and three RBIs. Carter Roth added three hits and two RBIs, while Tanner Nelson and Max Harris each collected three hits and drove in two runs. Jordan Bond also contributed three hits and two RBIs in the win.

On the mound, Broc Songster earned the win, tossing seven innings while striking out eight. Josh Kearney closed the game with two scoreless innings in relief.

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