Badgers stun Chaps in series opener on the road

If there were any doubts that the Badger bats could perform against high-level pitching entering the series against Midland College, they no longer remain.

Lefty cleanup hitter Grant Watkins set the tone for his team from the get-go and continued to show he's one of the top sluggers at the NJCAA D-I level. The first baseman recorded his fourth multi-home run game and had five RBIs.

Watkins ended the series with an eye-popping 1.385 slugging percentage and a .538 batting average.

The sophomore added a third home run on Saturday, marking his second consecutive series with three home runs.

His 15 home runs this season are tied for ninth in NJCAA D-I.

Payton Bush and Sydney Ward added two hits apiece during the game one victory.

Logan Tibbett made his second appearance of the season on the mound and his first start after recovering from a preseason injury. The Jenks High School product and the Badgers defense stranded 10 MC baserunners over the course of the seven-inning contest.

Tibbett's performance was highlighted by an extraordinary put out following a line drive hit that hit him directly in the shoulder off the bat. The freshman immediately made it to his feet after getting hit and scooped the ball in the infield before making an underhand toss to first base for the out.

Astonishingly, Tibbett remained in the game after a brief stoppage and pitched two additional innings.