NEBRASKA CITY - Beatrice's Orangemen baseball team hammered its way to a 17-4 win over Nebraska City Monday night at Clemmy Holmes Legion Field. The Orangemen were able to end the game in the fifth inning on the 10-run rule.

Offensively, it took the Orangemen a while to get things started.

“This was a difficult game from the start,” Beatrice coach Jeremy Morgan said. “Their pitchers struggled to throw strikes, so it was hard for our guys to get their timing.”

Morgan said, eventually, the Orangemen did a better job of being patient and waiting for the pitches to come and took better swings at the ball.

In the first inning, Beatrice scored six runs.

Garrett Bruhn accounted for two of the runs in the inning with a two-run double, while Justin Coleman knocked in a pair with a two-run single.

The Orangemen added three runs in the second inning.

Jay Hartman homered to bring in Andrew Haake for Beatrice's first two runs in the second inning, while Garrett Bruhn hit a solo home run for the other.

Beatrice scored seven runs in the third inning, led by James Rivers with a three-run double.

Micah Busboom, Matt Lauritsen, Dane Fossler and Haake also had RBIs in the third inning.

Bruhn led the Beatrice offense with two home runs and a double.

Hartman homered, while James Rivers and Ryan Stevens each doubled.

Coleman, Haake and Busboom each had two basehits for Beatrice. while Lauritsen, Fossler and Tommy Luers had a single each.

Morgan said this game allowed for most of the younger players to receive playing time.

“Everyone got to play, so that is good for some of our younger guys,” Morgan stated. “They need to continue to get experience so that we can use them productively if we need them in a varsity game.”

On the mound for the Orangemen, Fossler started and threw three innings. He gave up one hit and struck out two.

Justin Coleman threw two innings in relief of Fossler, giving up four runs on three hits and four walks.