Since 2005, GMLOK baseball has been mired in a (well) slump (baseball term). In 14 years, the Bulldogs have amassed zero winning seasons. There was a winless season, a trio of one win seasons, and a four year span with seven total victories. The last three years have been better; a four-game play-off run in 2017, a home play-off game in 2018. New coach Dakotah Rostad inherited a program in much better shape than a few years ago. Nine games into the 2019 season, the Bulldogs are in unprecedented waters. They are off to a (program best?) 8-1 start, having already surpassed last year’s win total. Eight wins is as many as any GMLOK baseball team has had the last 14 years period! A 4-0 week saw the Bulldogs win their third 8-inning game, and scrap out two others in the bottom of the seventh versus top SEC foes. Southland fell first. GMLOK led 3-0 only for a 4-run Rebel fifth. The Bulldogs tied it with one in the sixth, then got a couple in the top of the eighth for the 6-4 win. Dustin Copley (4 1/3 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, ND) and Christian Millette (3 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K, Win, 2-2, R) handled the pitching. Dylan Lunning reached four times (1-1, 3 BBs, R) in a game where hits were at a premium. GMLOK then handled M-C 14-2. Dustin (4-4, ITP-HR, 5 RBI, 4 R) and Drew Copley (4-4, two 2B, RBI, 2 R) led the way. Nolan Skifter (2-5, 2 RBI, 2 R), Reid Kruegel (2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, R), and Lunning (5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, Win) helped. Rostad’s crew then turned to ace Drew Copley at undefeated Randolph (5-0). The senior turned in 6 1/3 scoreless innings (7 H, 0 R, 2 BBs, 7 K, Win (3-0)), staying hot at the plate (2-3, two 2B, 2 RBI). GMLOK led 6-0. The Rockets had a four-run bottom of seventh, but Millette finished the game with a strikeout for the 6-4 Bulldog win. Kruegel (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Skifer (2-4, R), and Lunning (2-4, R) also had multiple hits. Finally, GMLOK hosted one-loss L/P (6-1) in a dramatic cap to the week. The Bulldogs jumped out 9-0 after three. But L/P got four in the fourth, three in the sixth, and two more in the top of the seventh to tie the game 9-9! They had all the momentum as GMLOK’s pitching was wearing thin. But so too did the Athletics. Bryce Strouf gave a hit and three walks in the bottom of the seventh. The last, on a full-count with a five-man drawn-in infield, was to Dustin Copley; the bases loaded walk-off walk. GMLOK survived 10-9! Lucas Heusinkveld (3-4, 2B, 3 RBI, R), Lunning (2-4, 3 RBI), Dr. Copley (2-4, 2B, 2 R), and Kruegel (2-3, RBI) had multiple hits. Millette drew the lead-off walk in the 7th. Courtesy-runner Tanner Kasel scoring the winning run. Skifter (1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K) picked up the win. Du. Copley started the game (5 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 8 K). GMLOK (5-0, 8-1) shares the SEC lead with Spring Grove (5-0, 6-0).
Bulldog Baseball “Walks” to 8-1 Start
