The United South Central Rebels’ baseball team raced to an 8-0 lead over Blooming Prairie before giving up two runs late in the game, winning 8-2 on Tuesday, May 2.

The Rebels notched four runs in the fifth inning to blow the game open. Aiden Crabtree started the inning with a single and advanced to third on an error by Blooming Prairie on a ball hit by Ethan Koehler. Koehler quickly stole second, and a couple pitches later, Nathaniel Clore was awarded first base on a hit by pitch. After a strikeout, Nick Bushlack laced a deep fly ball to left center to clear the bases with a double. He then promptly scored on a passed ball by the Blooming Prairie pitcher.

Zale Bushlack pitched a gem for USC. The right-hander surrendered two runs on four hits over seven innings, striking out five and walking zero.

The Rebels racked up nine hits in the game. Crabtree and Nick Bushlack managed multiple hits, each having two. Nick Bushlack contributed three RBI with Zale Bushlack driving in two RBI.

The win brings USC’s record to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play.

USC 7, WEM 5

The United South Central Rebel baseball team weathered a scare by the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Buccaneers in the sixth inning where the Rebels coughed up three unearned runs.

But, USC was able to hold on for a 7-5 victory on Monday night, May 1.

In the second inning, USC took the lead when Taybor Conley drew a bases loaded walk. The Rebels took the lead for good with three runs in the fourth inning. Nick Bushlack tripled in a run, Taybor Conley then squeeze bunted in Bushlack and next promptly stole second and third before Byron Getchell scored Conley on an RBI groundout.

Conley pitched the Rebels to victory. The southpaw went seven innings, allowing five runs, zero earned, on six hits, while striking out six and walking one.

The Rebels scattered eight hits in the game. Conley and Nick Bushlack managed multiple hits for USC. Conley went 3 for 3 on the day with three stolen bases and an RBI. Bushlack went 2 for 3 with a triple and an RBI.

USC was set to travel to Austin to face Blooming Prairie on May 2 and played at home against Mankato Loyola on Friday, May 5.

USC 5, Triton 4

The United South Central Rebels’ baseball team claimed a 5-4 comeback victory over Triton in eight innings on Thursday, April 27, despite being down 4-1 in the sixth inning.

With two outs in the seventh inning and trailing by one run, Nick Bushlack started the rally with a walk. Taybor Conley reached on an error that advanced Bushlack to third. Zale Bushlack then laced a line drive up the middle to tie the game and send it to extra innings.

In the bottom of the eighth, Aiden Crabtree roped a single to left field with one out. He was replaced on the base path by freshman Seth Kayser. Kayser promptly stole second to put the winning run in scoring position. After a passed ball that put Kayser on third and a two out walk to Hunter Bruckoff, the Triton pitcher balked in the winning run to allow USC to complete the comeback and win 5-4.

Zale Bushlack started on the mound for the Rebels, throwing six and one third strong innings, giving up seven hits, four runs and striking out five. Crabtree earned his second straight win in relief throwing the final one and two-thirds innings, allowing no runs, no hits, and striking out two.

Nick Bushlack once again had the hot bat going 3 for 3, with a double. Byron Getchell went 2 for 4, with a double. The Rebels had 10 hits total with the remaining hits coming from Zale Bushlack, Bullerman, Crabtree, Bruckoff, and Zayden Schott.

The win puts USC’s record at 4-2.