Runs have been hard to come by in the early days of the Hastings Sodbusters 2021 season. Hastings fell to Fremont 6-3 to drop to 2-6 on the season. The fault doesn't lie with the pitching and defense. The Sodbusters are hitting .203 through 8 games with only 5 extra base hits. They are near the bottom of the Expedition League in stolen bases and are averaging over 11 punch-outs per game. The good news is the pitching staff has been superb and the defense has been more than solid. Despite the 2-6 record, the Hastings pitching staff boasts the 3rd best ERA (4.27) in the 12-team league. If the Hastings offense finds a way to produce runs in the spacious confines of Duncan Field, home field advantage for the 'Busters could make a big difference down the stretch. For tonight, 3 runs wasn't going to be enough to take down the defending Expedition League champion Fremont Moo.

A great addition to the Sodbusters' staff is RHP Shane Scott, making his Hastings debut. After a quick run in the 1st, Scott settled in and hurled 4 consecutive scoreless innings before a 2-out error by shortstop Cole Dawson led to 2 more Fremont runs. Scott left the game with a 3-1 deficit after pitching 6 innings and recording 8 strikeouts, walking only 1 and giving up 5 hits. 

Another new Sodbuster, Seth Clayborne made his first home appearance and ran into some big Fremont bats. Only recording 2 outs, Clayborne allowed 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk before handing the ball to Manny Herrera. Manny wiggled out of the 7th and threw another 2 shutout innings giving the anemic Sodbuster bats a chance in the later innings. 

Sodbusters got baserunners on in each of the final three innings, loading them up in the 8th with only 1 out. Alas, the Sodbusters would only have single runs in the 7th and 8th to show for the efforts. The Fremont Moo closer, Marco Ozuna Jr recorded a 5-out save after relieving Ballard in the 8th. 

Trey Kozal led the Busters at the plate with 3 hits and scored 2 runs. Cole Dawson added 2 hits to bring his season batting average up to .300 on the year. The Sodbusters fall to 2-6 and Fremont stands at 7-1, leading the Clark Division.