2026 Baseball Season Opener
Game 1 Recap:
Marquez Helps Runnin' Lopes Slug Their Way To Victory Against Seward County Saints
February 1, 2026 vs. Seward County Saints 26
Freshman Ethan Marquez put on a dominant display at the plate, blasting three home runs and driving in 6 RBI's to lead the Runnin’ Lopes to a 16–2 victory over the Seward County Saints on Sunday as the official 2026 Season Opener.
Marquez went deep in the first, second, and fourth innings, setting the tone early with a solo shot to left in the opening frame. Lamar continued to build momentum in the second, scoring five runs on four hits. Freshman Sebastian Chavez launched a two-run homer to right, Freshman Antonio Soto-Rodriguez doubled home a run, and Marquez capped the inning with a two-run homer to center.
The game broke wide open in the fourth inning when Lamar erupted for 10 runs. Freshman Jackson Brettelle drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run, Sophomore Santiago Long joins the home run rally with a three-run homer to right, and a Seward County's error brought home two more. Marquez followed with his third home run of the game—a three-run shot to center—before Freshman Jonas Molinar added an RBI single.
Seward County’s lone offense came in the top of the fifth when Santaella homered to left, driving in two runs.
Transfer Dominick Gonzalez earned the win for Lamar, allowing just two hits and no runs over three innings while striking out seven and walking two. Creighton took the loss for Seward County, surrendering five runs (three earned) on three hits in 1 2/3 innings. Starter Kappelmann was tagged for six runs on five hits over 1 2/3 innings. Vandever closed things out for Lamar with a scoreless inning of relief.
Game 2 Recap:
Lamar Runnin' Lopes Lose Despite Out Hitting Seward County Saints
February 1, 2026 vs. Seward County Saints 26
Runnin’ Lopes fell 17–6 to the Seward County Saints in game 2 of the double-header, despite out-hitting the Saints 11–9.
Seward County scored twice in the top of the first on an RBI triple by Alvarez and an RBI groundout from Brabb. Lamar responded with four runs in the bottom half, taking a 4–2 lead behind RBI hits from Oxford, Hernandez, and Kattner, along with a run scored on a wild pitch.
The Saints regained control in the fourth inning, scoring five runs on four hits to move ahead 8–4. Gilbert delivered the key swing with a two-run home run to left.
Seward County put the game out of reach in the sixth, erupting for seven runs. The inning included an RBI double by Santaella, bases-loaded walk by Brabb, a hit-by-pitch, a run on a passed ball, and a three-run homer by Urias. Brabb added a two-run homer in the seventh to cap the scoring.
Soto-Rodriguez led Lamar with three hits, while Oxford went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Hernandez added two hits. Lamar finished with 11 hits on the day.
For Seward County, Brabb drove in four runs, while Santaella and Alvarez each collected two hits. Vera Jr. earned the win in relief, allowing two runs over two innings with four strikeouts.