MOUNT IDA —The Bismarck Lions roared with an impressive shutout road victory defeating Mount Ida 14-0 on Friday in a non-conference baseball battle on the diamond.
A stout pitching duo of Trey Smith and Preston Hughes combined to throw a shutout performance on the mound. Smith threw four and two-thirds innings, allowed one hit, and struck out 11 batters and launched 51 strikes across the plate, facing 17 batters—while Preston Hughes pitched two and one-third innings, giving up no hits, no runs and striking out four batters, and threw 19 strikes, facing seven batters.
Offensively, a Lion trio knocked out home runs—Blake Cranford, Cayden Burch and Preston Hughes to spark the roar against Mount Ida. Preston Hughes collected three hits in five at bats in the win. Hughes hit a solo home run to center field in the fifth inning, singled in the second inning, and singled in the fourth inning.
The Lions opened the scoring in the first after Cranford hit a solo home run to left field.
Bismarck added to their early lead in the top of the second inning when Hughes singled, scoring two runs, and Smith was struck by a pitch, driving in a run.
The Lions added one run in the third. Landon Williams stole home, making the score 5-0.
The Lions added two more runs in the top of the fifth inning on three hits.
Bismarck added six more runs in the top of the seventh inning on five hits. Jaylon Ashcraft doubled, scoring one run, Williams doubled, scoring two runs, and Burch homered to left field, scoring three runs.
The Lions accumulated 17 hits in the game with 14 runs scored in the shutout victory. Williams and Hughes each collected three hits for Bismarck. Williams, Hughes, and Burch each drove in three runs, while Cranford, Smith, Ashcraft, and Hughes each collected multiple hits for Bismarck.
Williams and Cranford led the team with two bases on balls each. Williams and Hughes each stole multiple bases for Bismarck as the team roared with seven stolen bases in the game. Brody Allen with Norris and Ashcraft each had a stolen base—Williams and Preston Hughes each had two stolen bases.
Offensively, Preston Hughes tallied three hits (home run), with three RBIs and scored two runs—Cranford had two hits (home run) with an RBI and scored three runs—Smith powered two hits with an RBI—Hershel Ford scored a run—Ashcraft smashed two hits with two RBIs and scored three runs—Norris sparked for a hit and scored two runs—Allen knocked out a fast ball for a hit—Burch homered with three RBIs and scored a run—Parker Hughes tallied two hits and scored a run.
This week, the Lions are set to roar on the diamond facing Kirby and Bauxite in two non-conference baseball showdowns.
Read story details in Tuesday’s March 17 MDR newspaper edition.