By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS - A five-run sixth inning helped host Cassopolis to a Lakeland Conference split with visiting Buchanan Monday afternoon.
The Rangers won the opening game 5-4, but dropped the nightcap to the Bucks, 3-2.
The Rangers trailed the Bucks 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth when Jason Rietveld blasted a grand slam to tie the game at 4-4 with two outs.
Cassopolis (4-4, 1-3 LAC) then scored the winning run on a single.
Buchanan got the tying run to second with no outs, but was unable to score.
Andre Broussard went the distance for the Rangers to pick up the victory. Broussard (1-1) tossed a four-hitter with four strike outs and a walk.
Broussard allowed four runs, of which, only was was earned.
Jeremy Lucas (3-2) went the distance for the Bucks, allowing five runs on six hits with five strike outs and three walks.
Jim Connors had a two-run home run for the Bucks in the fifth inning to give Buchanan a 4-0 lead. The Bucks scored single runs in the second and third innings.
Besides Rieveld's home run, the Rangers got a triple from Jeff Lee and a double from Zach Deubner.
In the nightcap Buchanan rallied from a 2-1 deficit with two runs in the third inning to pick up the victory.
Buchanan (5-7, x-x LAC) led 1-0 in the second before the Rangers scored twice in the bottom of the second to take the lead.
Kyle Tracey (2-2) went the distance, allowing two runs on five hits with eight strike outs and a walk.
Rietveld (1-2) also went the distance, allowing three runs on three hits with 10 strike outs and a walk.
None of the runs were earned as the Rangers committed seven errors.
Mitchell Plott had a double to lead the Bucks offensively, while Spencer Hardisty had a pair of doubles for the Rangers.
Justin Lee also doubled for Cassopolis.
The Bucks return to action next Tuesday when they host Brandwyine for another Lakeland Conference game set to begin at 4 p.m.