EVANSTON — The Evanston Outlaws hosted the Rock Springs Sand Puppies on Saturday, June 10, hitting the Sand Puppies early and often en route to an 11-5 victory. 

Rock Springs took the plate at the beginning of the game, and got off to a good start after their first batter grounded out, followed by a walk, a single and another walk. With the bases loaded, Outlaws starting pitcher Chandler Anderson beaned the fifth Sand Puppy batter, bringing in a run.

After a shaky start on the mound, Anderson got his first strikeout of the game but then hit the next batter, walking in another run for Rock Springs. Anderson was finally able to close out the inning, notching his second strikeout.

The Outlaws, however, took a giant leap once they came to the plate, scoring six runs. 

After a scoreless second inning, the Sand Puppies were able to bring a run home in the top of the third. Evanston hung another zero on the scoreboard in the third, but headed into the fourth inning with a 6-3 lead.

Anderson’s defense ended the top of the fourth as he caught a fly ball hit by Sand Puppy Holden Cain.

After a walk and a single, and an Evanston batter getting hit by a pitch, the Outlaws loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth. Seth Lloyd hit a ball into shallow left field, earning him two RBIs. A flyout sent the Outlaws into the fifth inning with an 8-3 lead.

Pitchers changed as the Outlaws took the field in the top of the fifth inning. Griffen Mitchell moved to pitcher, Chandler Anderson to first base, Seth Lloyd to shortstop and Reid Gross at right field. 

The repositioning helped the Outlaws to hold their lead as neither team scored in the fifth. 

During the sixth inning, the Sand Puppies scored one run after a tough battle at home plate, making the score 8-4. 

With the Evanston Outlaws up to bat in the sixth, Braeden Macdonald got hold of one for a homer. After another run scored, the score was 10-4. 

The Sand Puppies were able to load the bases in the top of the seventh inning, but the Outlaws were able to get out of the jam, leaving the score 10-4. 

Hunter Hicks hit a ball into a gap at left field, allowing Brandon Wicks to score in the eighth and adding to the Outlaws’ lead as one run scored. Evanston headed into the ninth leading 11-4.

In the final inning of the baseball game, the Sand Puppies scored again via a walk, giving them one more run and putting the soon-to-be final score at 11-5. Evanston finished the game by catching an infield fly ball.