East Nicolaus’s Braden Hardwick had a two-run triple in the Spartans’ 13-9 win over Colusa on May 2.

NICOLAUS, CA (MPG) – Having dropped a heartbreaker 3-4 to Sacramento Valley League rival Colusa on April 29, the East Nicolaus baseball team responded three days later with a 13-8 come from behind win to split the season series with the RedHawks.

In Colusa for the first game, Spartan miscues spotted the RedHawks a three-run lead in the early going, but they clawed their way back into the game in the top of the second when Logan Cleary alertly scored on a passed ball.

However, East Nicolaus looked in even better position in the fifth after putting two more runs on the board to tie the game at 3-3.

Spartan first baseman Brody Johnson catches a low throw to record the putout during East Nicolaus’s 3-4 loss to Colusa on Apr. 29.

Ashton Wong scored on a fielder’s choice by Hurley Cruz before Daven Earhart’s sacrifice fly plated Cleary who had reached after getting hit by a pitch.

Unfortunately for the Spartans though, the rally ended on the base paths with a runner caught stealing.

Then after going scoreless in the final two frames, they saw the RedHawks walk off in the home half of the seventh.

Wong went 2 for 4 on the day, while Earhart, Mikey Miller and Braden Hardwick accounted for the Spartans only other hits in the game.

East Nicolaus’s Ashton Wong delivers a pitch during the Spartans’ Apr. 29 game in Colusa.

On the mound, Wong put forth a valiant effort but suffered the hard-luck loss after scattering five hits, surrendering just one earned run and striking out three.

Still the Spartans didn’t hang their heads and upon returning home on May 2, erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the sixth to surge past the RedHawks and claim victory.

Pounding out six of its 11 hits in the frame, the big blows came from a pair of doubles by Wong and Brody Johnson.

East Nicolaus’s Daven Earhart (11) is congratulated by Mikey Miller (2) after Earhart’s sacrifice fly plated a run during the Spartan’s game in Colusa on Apr. 29.

And although Colusa rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh, Earhart threw a double play ball and caught the final RedHawk batter looking to end the game.

Hardwick had a huge day at the plate finishing 3 for 4 with a triple, two doubles and three RBI, while Johnson and William Miller collected two hits apiece.

Sitting third in the Sacramento Valley League, East Nicolaus (11-9, 6-3) traveled to Durham on May 6, then host the Trojans on May 9.