Beatrice, Nebr. – The wind was no match for the Southeast Community College baseball team on Thursday in the first game of the Western District tournament. The Bobcats defeated the Central Arizona College Vaqueros 9-1 in seven innings.

In the first inning Jordan Lemon allowed no hits from the mound, and Gabe Dalton was walked to open the game. A sacrifice fly from Kadyn Martinez sent Dalton to second base, and he was batted in by Jack Hogan to take an early 1-0 lead.

Both teams went three-up and three-down in the second and third innings. The Vaqueros had two on base in the fourth inning after a single and a walk, but left both stranded. Hogan found first base again from a walk, but no more would follow in the fourth.

In the top of the fifth inning Central Arizona was able to respond and plate a runner after two singles and a sacrifice fly, making it a tie game 1-1.

SCC came to life in the bottom of the fifth. Teigan Munce led off with a single, and Crew Moeller found the nicer side of the fence for a two-run home run. Martinez was walked after Dalton flew out, and Brady Hunt recorded the third hit of the inning and Hogan got walked to load the bases up. Back-to-back singles from Jacob Perrin and Jake Smolinski brought in two apiece. Munce struck out in his second at-bat of the inning, and the Bobcats led 7-1 after five innings.

Cael Clancy relieved Lemon at the mound and shut down the Vaqueros in the top of the sixth.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Crew Moeller got to first on an error and Dalton took a walk. Martinez hit his second sacrifice of the game, this time a fly that brought Moeller home. Dalton stole second and third base, and took advantage of a wild pitch to make it 9-1 after six innings and bring the run rule into play.

After two quick outs, Central Arizona found life in the top of the seventh. The Vaqueros hit a double and a single to get a player into scoring position, before a lineout to first base ended their comeback hopes.

Lemon threw five innings, allowed four hits and only one run with two strikeouts and two walks. Clancy took over in the sixth and threw one strikeout and allowed no runs in relief.

The Bobcats advance to play the winner of Game 2 between Salt Lake Community College and Northeastern Junior College. Their next game will be at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 15.