Byeman leads massive Eastlake slugfest to win against Skyline

On Wednesday afternoon, the red hot Eastlake Wolves baseball team dispatched the Skyline Spartans 13-2 in the fifth inning, extending their winning streak to seven straight games. The game ended early due to the mercy rule, which kicks in when a team is leading by 10 or more runs at the end of an inning.

The lopsided victory was sealed by a three-run walk-off homer from Ben Byeman in the fifth inning. Byeman finished the day with two hits in four at bats, while driving in four RBIs in the process.  

Skyline got the scoring started in the first inning, as Tommy Seem and Jack Evans drew two walks to have runners on first and second with two outs left. Jackson Spencer would then rip a triple into right field to score both runners, making the score 2-0 Skyline. However, the Spartans offense could not spark for the rest of the game. 

Eastlake would chip away at the deficit in the subsequent innings after an infield single from Gabe Prock in the second inning and a home plate steal from Brock Sampson in the third, tying the game 2-2 heading into the fourth. 

Although Eastlake pitcher Cruz Payne only got two strikeouts, he shut Skyline’s offense down, pitching four out of the five innings while allowing only three hits.

Meanwhile, Eastlake continued to put up runs. In the fourth inning, they were able to put up three runs, highlighted by an RBI single from Ben Byeman amidst a few errors from the Skyline defense. In the fifth inning, Eastlake pulled away. A few singles from Kellen Kinney and Skyler Levine, along with a double from Marcus Frantella would make the score 10-2 Eastlake. Byeman’s homer was icing on the cake.