Bulldog Baseball “Walks” to 8-1 Start

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).