Spring Grove’s 14-4 home baseball win versus Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons was not a conventional 10-run rule decision. There was plenty of drama as the Lions trailed for the first four and half innings before erupting for 10-runs in the fifth inning of the April 25 conference contest.
Photo by Lee Epps
Winless AC/GE, which came in averaging just over two runs a game, scored four runs on four hits in the first half-inning. After only nine pitches, it was 2-0. The first four batters scored, But the visitors would not score again. Lion starter Jaxon Strinmoen (3 innings, 4 runs, 4 strikeouts, 3 walks) recovered to toss two scoreless innings before reliever Ben Udstuen (3 innings, 1 hit, no runs, 2 strikeouts, 3 walks) blanked AC/GE during the final three frames before the game ended an inning early with the 10-run rule. Udstuen was credited with the pitching win.
The Lion comeback began with Strinmoen’s leadoff double in the second inning. He scored on a wild pitch, and it was 4-1 after two innings. Spring Grove made progress in the next inning with a lead-off single from Elijah Solum and back-to-back RBI doubles from Ezra Griffin and Brandon Jahnke. Janke, the potential tying run, was on second base with only one out, but Kole Nelsen struck out the next two Lions. Four of the five Lion hits were doubles, but AC/GE still led 4-3 after three innings.
Nelsen (4 innings, 5 hits, 7 strikeouts, 1 walk) then retired Spring Grove in order before he left the mound after four innings. The Lions would then pounce on reliever Landon Mattson
with seven hits in the fifth. Grove led 7-4 when a dropped third strike kept the Lions in business for an additional six unearned runs. It was 13-4 after five innings.
AC/GE managed only one hit against Udstuen during the final three innings, but two unorthodox double plays squelched hopes for the visitors. After fly ball was caught for out two, an AC/GE base runner started for the dugout, thinking it was out three before being thrown out. In the final inning, runner-interference on an infield pop-up resulted in the runner and batter both being ruled out.
The defensive gem was a diving catch in right field by Lion sophomore Bryce Berns. There were numerous offensive gems in the 13-hit Lion attack with Jahnke driving in four runs while batting 3 for 4 with a double. Elijah Solum also went 3 for 4 while driving in two runs, scoring three times and stealing two bases. There were four doubles altogether with one each from Strinmoen (2 for 3, RBI), Ezra Griffin (2 for 3, RBI) and Caleb Griffin (1 for 3).
Udstuen (1 for 3), drove in two runs with a two-out single in the big fifth frame. An inning later, the game ended with the 10-run rule with an RBI single from Tysen Moen (1 for 1) scoring Ty Cleven from second base.
Spring Grove improved to 3-1 (3-1 SEC), while AC/GE remained winless at 0-8 (0-5 SEC)
With limited numbers, AC/GE does not have a B-team this season.
—————————
SG 14, AC/GE 4
SG 012 – 0(10)1 = 14 13 2
AC/GE 400 – 000 = 4 6 1
LOB: SG 5, AC/GE 8
Stolen bases: SG 5, AC/GE 1
SG 13 hits (4 doubles, 9 singles): Brandon Jahnke 3-4, dbl, 4 RBI, R; Elijah Solum 3-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 sb; Jaxon Strinmoen 2-3, dbl, RBI, 2 R; Ezra Griffin 2-3, dbl, RBI, R; Tysen Moen 1-1, RBI; Ben Udstuen 1-3, 2 RBI; Caleb Griffin 1-3, dbl, R .
AC/GE 6 hits (6 singles): Mattson 2-4
Pitching SG: Strinmoen 3 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 KL, 3 W, 1 HB; (WP) Udstuen 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K, 3 W
Pitching AC/GE: Nelsen 4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 EER, 7 K, 1 W: (LP) Mattson 0 2/3 IP, 6 H, 10 R, 4 ER, 2K, 2 W, 1 HB; Hensche 0 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1K, 2W
Records: SG 3-1 (3-1 SEC), AC/GE 0-8 (0-5 SEC)
SG LINEUP: p Strinmoen, c Ezra Griffin, 1b Udstuen, 2b Solberg, ss Caleb Griffin, 3b Jahnke, lf Zach Brumm, cf Elijah Solum, rf Berns, dh Logan Brumm, cr Jacob Solum, ph Cleven & Moen
Leave a Reply