NRHEG rallies past Nicollet, tops LCWM in eight innings
The spring success continues for the NRHEG baseball team, which improved its record to 9-1 in the Gopher Conference and 15-2 overall with a pair of wins in the past week.
On Monday, the Panthers traveled to Nicollet and came home with an 8-3 nonconference triumph.
Tyler Sorenson sparked the Panthers at Nicollet with a two-run triple in the top of the second after the home team scored three in the first.
Mitch Akemann settled down on the mound after that, finishing with a complete-game four-hitter. He allowed three earned runs, struck out eight and walked four.
“Mitch had some clutch pitches in tough situations,” said NRHEG coach Jeff Reese.Matt Dahle was 3-for-4, Akemann 2-for-3 and Sam Lundberg 2-for-4 with three runs scored.
Catcher Jacob Staloch had an outstanding defensive game, according to Reese.
“We need to come out for the first inning with more intensity and desire,” said the coach. “Overall, it was a good win.”
The Panthers won in dramatic fashion last Friday at Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, where Lucas Meyer was hit by a pitch, stole second, was balked to third and scored the winning run on a wild pitch to give NRHEG an eight-inning 9-8 victory.
Dahle, Lundberg, Sorenson and Brad Claycomb all had key hits, according to Reese.
David Lassahn was 2-for-3 with two runs, Dahle 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, Lundberg 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs, Claycomb 2-for-4 with one RBI. Sorenson had a two-run double.
Nic Mangskau started on the mound, allowing five earned runs on seven hits. Lundberg pitched three innings of relief for the win, giving up one earned runs on three hits, with five strikeouts and one walk.
“We are winning the close games with key hits and solid pitching and a never-say-die attitude,” said Reese.