Comets salvage conference split to snap losing skid

Win or lose, the Havre Comets were just happy to play someone new.

After dropping four consecutive games to their older counterparts, the Havre Northstars, the Comets broke an eight-game losing streak, salvaging a split against the Vauxhall Spurs on Saturday at Legion Field.

Still, Havre had to wait until the nightcap of the doubleheader to pick up the long-awaited win.

The Comets opened up the evening of conference games with a tough 11-9 loss. It appeared they were headed for their first win taking a 5-3 lead into the fifth inning thanks to a clutch two-run double from Bryden Vukasin in the second inning and a two-run single in the fourth from Jeff Tibbals.

After surrendering two runs in the opening inning, Havre's John Christian settled down to allow just one more run over the next three innings. But things got a little interesting in the top of the fifth. Vauxhall scored three runs on just one hit in the inning as Christian was hurt by a pair of hit bats-men, a walk and a wild pitch as the Spurs took a 6-5 lead.

Vauxhall tacked on three more runs in the sixth inning off of reliever Jess McLain on a walk followed by four consecutive singles to take a 9-5 lead.

Havre answered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a pair of Spur errors to trim the lead to 9-7.

The Spurs picked up two more insurance runs in their final at-bat off of Sean Peterson on a double, a sacrifice fly and back-to-back singles.

Down 11-7, the Comets tried to rally one last time, scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh before coming up short.

Christian took the loss on the mound for Havre, allowing five earned runs in five innings of work.

Tibbals and Vukasin led the Comet offense. Tibbals finished 2-3 with a pair of RBIs, while Vukasin drove in three runs.

But things got better in the nightcap for the Comets. And the breaks they couldn't seem to get in the past started going their way.

Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth, the Comets scored eight runs on four hits and took advantage a few Spur miscues to pick up a 9-5 win.

The big inning started out innocently with an Austin Small base hit to center with one out. McLain was then hit by a pitch and Christian and Josh Lowe walked to lead to a run. Josh Morse drove in two runs with a single to left center and Small capped off the scoring binge with his second single of the inning, driving in two more runs.

After holding Vauxhall to just two runs in the first six innings, Small showed some fatigue in the seventh, surrendering a single and double to open the inning. After getting a much needed out, he proceeded to walk three of the next four batters, allowing two more runs to score.

Havre went to Peterson to shut the door and he notched the save, registering outs in the only two batters he faced.

Small led the Havre offense with two hits and two RBIs. Morse added two RBIS and Tyson Anderson drove in a run while Tibbals had a pair of hits and scored a pair of runs.

The Comets return to action on Thursday when they face the Glasgow Reds on the first day of the Havre Baseball Jamboree.

Vauxhall 14, Havre 9

Vauxhall Spurs 200 133 2 - 11 14 3

Havre Comets 021 202 2 - 9 7 2

COMETS HITTING - Jeff Tibbals 2-3 (2 RBI), Sean Peterson 0-3, Mike Olson 1-4, Austin Small 1-4, Tyson Anderson 0-2, Jess McLain 0-2, Richard Jarvis 1-2, Bryden Vukasin 1-3 (3 RBI), Bill Siebrasse 1-3, Tom Knudson 0-2, Josh Morse 0-1.

SPURS HITTING - not available

2B - none

3B - Tibbals

HR - none

Havre 9, Vauxhall 5

Vauxhall Spurs` 101 000 3 - 5 7 5

Havre Comets 100 008 X - 9 7 3

COMETS HITTING - Jeff Tibbals 2-3, Sean Peterson 1-4, Tyson Anderson 1-3 (RBI), Austin Small 2-3 (2 RBI), Jess McLain 0-2, John Christian 0-2, Josh Lowe 0-2, Josh Morse 1-3 (2 RBI), Scott Ladenburg 0-3.

SPURS HITTING - not available

2B - none

3B - none

HR - none