NRHEG pounds previously unbeaten Randolph, 16-6
Close, so close.
It was the story for the NRHEG baseball team — until last week.
The previously winless Panthers broke out in a big way, winning three of four games to suddenly improve to a 3-6 season record. NRHEG defeated WEM 4-3, Randolph 16-6 and Maple River 6-3 while being edged 2-1 by Mankato Loyola.
WEM
NRHEG got its first win of the year in a good nine-inning game Monday.
Trevor Tracy pitched seven strong innings and Matt Jensen pitched two scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win.
NRHEG got on the board in the second when Noah Krell singled in Dillon Kubiatowicz. NRHEG added two more in the fifth when Jensen singled home Tracy after he plated Dakota Thiele before him.WEM battled back in the sixth to tie it 3-3.
It was scoreless after that until Thiele walked to start the ninth. After a balk by WEM, Tracy bunted for a base hit that put runners on first and third. WEM intentionally walked Dillon Parpart to load the bases with no outs. Jensen then hit a fly ball to center that was caught, and Thiele tagged home for the winning run.
“It was a nice win,” said NRHEG coach Pat Churchill. “We had been tied or had the lead in the sixth inning in four out of our five games so it was nice to finally get over the hump and get our first win.
Tracy finished 3-for-5 at the plate, Jensen 2-for-4. Adding one hit each were Kubiatowicz, Krell, Grant Kyllo and Carson Field.
Randolph
NRHEG won Tuesday with a 16-6, five-inning triumph over previously unbeaten Randolph.
The Panthers jumped to a two-run lead in the first on a two-run single by Parpart. Randolph scored three in the second and one in the third to take a 4-2 lead.
A 2-RBI triple by Field in the fourth tied the game 4-4. Then Randolph had trouble throwing strikes and allowed 12 runs in the fifth. There were six walks and three hit batsmen that allowed NRHEG to score 12. Randolph scored two in the bottom of the inning to end the game at 16-6.
Field pitched all five innings for the Panthers to get the victory. He allowed 11 hits, struck out three and walked none.
Field also led the Panthers at the plate with four RBIs. Parpart was 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Tracy, Jet Wayne and Krell had one hit each.
Mankato Loyola
The Panthers were nipped Thursday at Mankato.
“This was a well pitched, well defended baseball game,” said Churchill.
It saw the Panthers go up 1-0 in the third when Thiele singled, Tracy bunted him to second and Parpart singled him home. Loyola tied t in the fifth and scored the go-ahead run with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth.
“We buckled down and got three outs to hold it to a one-run inning,” said Churchill. “But we were unable to score in the seventh to tie it up.”
Jensen pitched a complete game, giving up two earned runs on four hits, with four strikeouts and three walks.
Thiele went 3-for-3. Parpart and Zac Haberman also hit safely.
Maple River
The Panthers bounced back at Mapleton Friday to claim an 8-3 victory.
Maple River got on the board first, but Tracy settled down and the bats came alive for the Panthers as they scored four in the second and three in the third to take control.
Jensen hit a two-run homer, Krell had two doubles and three RBIs, and Thiele had two triples and two RBIs as NRHEG scored eight runs on eight hits. Tracy, Parpart and Kubiatowicz each had one hit.
Trevor Tracy pitched a complete game, finishing with seven strikeouts and four walks. He allowed three earned runs on five hits.