T-Birds knock off Northeastern, 6-3

EDMOND, Okla. — Sophomore Jackson Dietel threw a complete game and Griffen Larsen drove in three runs to lead the Cloud County Community College baseball team to a 6-3 win over Northeastern Oklahoma A&M on Thursday.
Dietel gave up three runs on eight hits. He struck out a career-high 11 and walked just two in seven innings of work.
“Having most of our starters on low pitch counts this week, we knew Dietel was probably one who could extend a little bit. His arm is in pretty good shape, and he is from Texas, so he was at home throwing over the break,” Cloud County coach Eric Gilliland said, “He gave us just that. He gave us a complete game and was economical with it. I don't even think he had his best stuff, but he really battled and made big pitches when needed to. NEO can hit, that was a physical team he got out all day long in a lot of different ways.”
Larsen, a freshman catcher, hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning to put Cloud County on top to stay. He had two hits in three at bats in raising his batting average through the first three games to .625 and also scored two runs.
“Griffin can hit, man. He's a big, physical hitter with big bat speed and when he's good, he's really good,” Gilliland said.
Single runs in the second, third and fourth innings extended Cloud County's lead to 6-0.
“Something we talk about all the time is not sitting on a lead and needing to score back when another team scores on us. We did that well, and really kept the pedal down offensively,” Gilliland said.
Northeastern Oklahoma made it a 6-1 game with one run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Golden Norsemen (1-3) made it a 6-3 game with two runs in the sixth inning.
Cloud County (2-1) finished with six runs on 10 hits.
Davis Platt had two hits in three at bats for the Thunderbirds.
The T-Birds were scheduled to play Eastern Oklahoma State College and Redlands Community College today.