85th Article at the Independent

PREP BASEBALL: Key inning propels Marshall past Pipestone Area, 11-2

CHRIS DRUMMOND

cdrummond@marshallindependent.com

MARSHALL — The Marshall and Pipestone Area baseball teams appeared to be locked in a tight battle during their game on Thursday, but MHS would change that with a seven-run sixth inning to propel itself to an 11-2 victory at Legion Field.

The Arrows jumped out to an early one-run advantage and the Tigers immediately responded with three runs to capture the lead after one inning at 3-1. The score would remain the same all the way up to the fifth inning, where the Arrows would score again, narrowing the deficit to one. However, the Tigers would respond again and make it a two-run lead at 4-2 after five innings.

Then the offense of the Tigers came alive. Junior designated hitter Lincoln Graven got things started with a home run that gave Marshall a three-run lead at 5-2 and they would put the game out of reach by batting around on seven runs and eight hits in the inning. Everyone who suited up for the Tigers contributed with a hit in the game.

Graven had a huge day from the plate leading the team in hits with three and RBIs with four. His teammate, starting pitcher Parker Schmitt would have a two-hit and two-RBI day at the plate. Also first baseman Charlie Jacobson and outfielder Connor Neubeck would both amass two hits apiece in the victory. Schmitt would also earn the win and pitched four solid innings, allowing only one run in the contest.

Marshall head coach Chace Pollock spoke on the team’s performance in the game and the message heading into sections next week.

“We had a lot of opportunities earlier in the game and left our players on base, it erupted in the sixth inning,” Pollock said. “We gotta keep working, there are areas we can improve in heading into sections, which is the best part of our season, no question about it. When the section tournament comes, we’ll be ready to go.”

Pipestone 100 010 0 – 2

Marshall 300 017 x – 11

Hitting: Marshall (Maeyaert 1-3, 2 RBI; Neubeck 2-3, RBI; Jacobson 2-4; Graven 3-5, 4 RBI; Plante 1-3; Wallen 1-5; Schmitt 2-4, 2 RBI; Brownlee 1-2; Radtke 1-2, RBI).

Pitching (IP-R-ER-H-BB-SO): Marshall (Schmitt 4-1-0-3-4-2; Wallen 3-1-1-3-0-2).