Extra Inning Rule Gives Columbus 2-1 Win Over GI Home Federal

(Columbus, NE) - A grinder of a game on Tuesday night saw Columbus Cornerstone Insurance defeat Grand Island Home Federal by a final score of 2-1 in 9 innings. 

Columbus would get a RBI hit from Zach Nelson in the 2nd inning to take a 1-0 lead as the two starting pitchers would settle into a duel.  Spencer Shotkoski would hold GI scoreless until the top of the 7th inning. Ian Arends would tie the game on an RBI double, scoring Miles Nelson from 2nd base. Shotkoski would pitch seven innings on 104 pitches, giving up eight hits, two walks, and striking out four Home Federal batters. 

Grand Island got a solid outing from Ethan Coslor, going 7 2/3 innings, only giving up the one run in the bottom of the second inning. Coslor would toss 96 pitches, give up four hits, one walk, and strike out six Columbus batters. 

After Grand Island tied the game, it would force the extra innings rules. A runner would be placed on 2nd base with one out for each team in the 8th inning. Both teams would get the runner from 2nd to 3rd, but would strand the runner. In the top of the 9th, Grand Island would get a runner at 3rd base with one out, but still would not be able to score a run to take the lead. After the 3rd out was recorded in the top of the 9th on a lineout, a run was then awarded to Columbus, and the game was official. 2-1 Columbus wins. 

GI would have eight hits in the game. Two hits would come from Gage Gannon and one hit apiece from Arends, Barrientos, Ruiz, Ruether, Martinez, and Nelson. Neither team would commit an error. Columbus had four hits in the contest, led by Zach Nelson with two. 

Grand Island falls to 1-3. Columbus is now 2-1. Grand Island will next be in action this Friday-Sunday, taking part in the Grand Island/Hastings Invite. 

In the junior's game, Columbus defeated Grand Island Five Points Bank 6-5.