By By SCOTT NOVAK / Vigilant/Argus
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 one 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 Rietveld'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) 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.
First game
Buchanan 011 020 0 - 4 4 1
Cassopolis 000 005 x - 5 6 6
Andre Broussard (W, 1-1), Jeremy Lucas (L, 3-2)
2B: Zach Deubner (C)
3B: Jeff Lee (C)
HR: Jim Connors (B), Jason Rietveld (C)
Second game
Buchanan 010 200 0 - 3 3 0
Cassopolis 020 000 0 - 3 5 7
Kyle Tracey (W, 2-2), Jason Rietveld (L, 1-2)
2B: Mitchell Plott (B), Spencer Hardisty (C) 2, Justin Lee (C)
Varsity records: Buchanan 5-7; Cassopolis 4-4, 1-3 LAC