By Byron Beers/Staff Writer

One day after winning its season opener against Deer Creek, El Reno had a late rally fall short on the road at Yukon on Friday afternoon.

Trailing 5-4 going into the seventh, the Indians had runners on first and second, but junior Caleb Koos grounded back to the pitcher for the game’s final out. Senior Clint Maune walked and Chandon Vieweg reached on an error with two outs to give Koos an opportunity to knock in the tying run.

El Reno scored twice during the sixth to even the contest at 4-4. Joe Halley led off with a walk, and Maune and Vieweg each got aboard on errors. After Jay Weekely walked to load the bases, Tyler Palmer brought home a run after being hit by a pitch and Ferguson drove in the tying run with a bases-loaded walk.

The Indians were limited to just three hits. Vieweg went 1-for-4 with a single and a run scored. Weekley had an RBI double to right center in the second and also knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field during the fourth. Lawrence Rhoades led off the fifth with a pinch-hit triple but was left stranded.

Koos lasted four innings as the starting pitcher where he allowed five runs, all earned, on eight hits. Koos recorded three strikeouts and issued a pair of walks.

Trendon Johnson came on in relief and worked the final two innings and was handed the loss. Johnson gave up one run on five hits and posted one strikeout.

“I thought Koos threw really well for his first start of the season,” said first-year head coach Jason Looper. “They only had four hard hits off him and he was able to keep them off balanced.

“We just made a couple of mistakes on the bases that cost us, but we will try to come back Monday against Chickasha. I’m excited to see where we are going.”

El Reno will host Chickasha at 4:30 p.m. Monday to open Suburban Conference play. The Indians then travel to play Chickasha at the same time on Tuesday. Maune, a Wichita State University signee, is expected to get his first start on the mound Monday.