Pittsburg baseball moved to 7-12 on the season after going 0-2 over the weekend in the Andover Central tournament. The Purple Dragons lost 5-4 on Saturday against the host Jaguars and 13-3 on Friday against Class 4A state-ranked Rock Creek.

Andover Central's Jonny George broke open a 2-all contest with a two-run single in the fifth and Eli Keiter's RBI groundout extended the lead to 5-2.

Courtesy runner Luke Jones scored on a passed ball in the sixth and then stole home in the seventh after pinch-hitting for Jace Slavens. Jones singled to center to start the Dragons' rally. Potential tying run Landen Proffitt worked a walk, but Christian Krogen and Kash O'Brien both grounded out to end the game.

Beck Fern's RBI triple made it a 2-all game in the fourth.

Keiter earned the win for the Jaguars, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits with 13 strikeouts and one walk over six innings. Kilian Tyrell pitched the final inning for the save.

O'Brien took the loss and he allowed four runs (all earned) on two hits with three strikeouts and three walks over 5 1/3 innings of relief. Fern started out and he allowed one run (earned) on two hits with two strikeouts and four walks over the first 1 2/3.

O'Brien, Cole Hayden, Max Busch, Fern and Jones each had one of the Dragons' five hits against Keiter and Tyrell. Fern and O'Brien only allowed a combined four hits, but the Jaguars worked seven walks and struck out eight fewer times than Pittsburg.

Rock Creek scored one run in the first, two in the second, seven in the third and three in the fourth to overcome Pittsburg's two in the third and one in the fifth Friday.

Brock Lubbers drove in four runs and leadoff man Jordy Scott earned three RBI. Scott doubled and tripled and Lubbers doubled. Scott also scored three runs.

The Dragons finished with five hits, all singles. Busch led the way with two hits and Krogen, O'Brien and Proffitt each had one. Krogen, O'Brien and Proffitt each scored one of the Dragons' three runs and Busch finished with two RBI and Hayden one.

Drake Wilcox took the loss and he allowed 10 runs (three earned) on six hits with four strikeouts and seven walks over 2 2/3 innings. Proffitt walked three during 1 1/3 innings of relief; overall, four Dragon pitchers combined to walk 17 batters over 11 innings pitched this weekend.

Pittsburg returned to the road Monday against Southeast Kansas League rival Independence. The Dragons just defeated Independence 3-2 last Thursday at historic Jaycee Ballpark.

Central 101 030 0 — 5 4 2

Pittsburg 010 101 1 — 4 5 2

Eli Keiter, Kilian Tyrell (7) and Cooper Green; Beck Fern, Kash O'Brien (2) and Max Busch. W: Keiter. L: O'Brien. SV: Tyrell. 3B—PHS: Fern.

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Pittsburg 002 01 — 3 5 1

Rock Creek 127 3x — 13 9 1

Drake Wilcox, Landen Proffitt (3) and Max Busch; Wyatt Wells, Luke Lee (4) and Noah Valburg. W: Wells. L: Wilcox. 2B—RC: Brock Lubbers, Jordy Scott. 3B—RC: Scott.

This sports reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/fund/support-local-journalism-project-fund/