North Platte High’s pitching couldn’t hold up over the course of seven innings on Saturday as they lost to Norfolk and Malcolm at Bill Wood Field.

The day began with a 13-12 loss to Norfolk. Norfolk (3-6) jumped out to a 5-2 lead early but North Platte (3-6) got going in the bottom of the fifth inning.

It started when Tommy Hagert scored as Norfolk catcher Hayden Kelley made a wild throw trying to get him out at third base. Landan Greeno tied the game with a two-run double to left field.

Norfolk starting pitcher Brenden Flood was relieved by Adrian O’Brien but the Bulldogs continued to pick up steam. Kade Songster hit a two-run single into right to give NPHS the lead.

Caden Joneson held the Panthers scoreless in the top of the sixth and that allowed the Bulldogs to build on their lead. Dein McEntire hit a two-run double to right against Noah Hinrichs, who relieved O’Brien earlier in the inning. Another run scored when Ty Haneborg hit a sacrifice fly ball to right.

Yet with three outs away from victory, the lead wasn’t big enough for North Platte. Norfolk score the first run of their rally when Caleb Disch grounded out into a fielder’s choice. The Panthers moved to within striking distance when Kelley hit a double just over centerfielder Jaxon Peters that scored three runs.

The lead changed hands when Ayden Papstein hit a two-run bloop single to left. Alex Makshantsev followed with a two-run double to give Norfolk some insurance.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Bulldogs got a run when Dein McEntire was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. It became a one-run game when Greeno hit a one-out sacrifice fly to center. But Joneson was thrown out trying to advance to third on the play and the Panthers came away with the win.

North Platte then lost, 13-3, to Malcolm. The game began with Logan McGreer hitting a leadoff home run off the scoreboard in right field for Malcolm (10-1) against pitcher Easton Geisler. Malcolm scored two more runs in the first inning.

The Clippers added a run in the second and two more in the third to lead 6-0.

The Bulldogs got on the board in the fourth inning against pitcher Carson Frank when Logan Hayes hit into a fielder’s choice.

Malcolm scored a run in the top of the sixth but NPHS cut into the lead in the bottom half of the inning when Songster got an infield single and another run scored on a passed ball by catcher Preston Kucera.

But Bulldog pitcher Jake Kinkaid, who only gave up one run in the previous three innings, started to tire and the Clippers blew it open with six runs in the seventh.

After the two losses, North Platte will play at Grand Island (3-2) on Monday.

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