Anchors Crush Duluth 14-2

July 2, 2015 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Alexandria Blue Anchors News Release


Alexandria, Minn. - The Alexandria Blue Anchors defeated the Duluth Huskies Thursday night at Knute Nelson Memorial Park by a score of 14-2. The Anchors are now 2-0 in the second half and 14-23 on the season.

The Blue Anchors bats were awake from the start of the game. In the first inning against Jordan Cummings, Steve Sada walked to start the game and stole second base and went to third on a ground out. Josh Merrigan drove in the first run of the ball game with a base hit. Ricky Sanchez followed with a double to put two in scoring position. Matt Hopfner would reach on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Kyle Richardson hit a single to left field scoring Merrigan. With the bases still loaded, Ben Allen ripped a triple over the right fielder's head to clear the bases. Luke Petterson then hit a single into left scoring Allen and the Anchors led 6-0 after one.

The Huskies got on the board in the second against Jake Matthys. Justin Paulsen hit a single with one out and went to third on Elijah Dilday's double. TJ Martin single to right scoring Paulsen making the score 6-1.

Alexandria kept it rolling in the second against the Huskies' bullpen. Kerrigan single to start the frame and Sanchez hit a homer to right field, his sixth of the season to make the score 8-1. Hopfner was hit by a pitch and went to second on Richardson's base hit. Another single, this time from Allen, loaded the bases for Anthony Mrosla. He grounded into a fielder's choice but it was enough to bring in another run and put the Anchors ahead 9-1.

The offense for the Blue Anchors continued to stay hot in the bottom of the third. Drew Fearing singled to start the inning and Josh Merrigan lifted his third homer of the season to right field putting Alexandria up 11-1.

The fourth inning didn't go any better for the Huskies on the mound. Luke Petterson reached on an error with one out and went to second on Sada's single. Fearing then to right and the ball was bobbled allowing Petterson to score. Kerrigan bounced into a fielder's choice for two outs in the inning. Sanchez hit a ball just fair down he third-base line to score Fearing and put the Anchors ahead 13-1.

Duluth got one more run in the top of the seventh. Dilday doubled to start the inning and went to third on a ground out. With two outs, an infield popup dropped off the bat of Nick Valaika and Huskies trailed 13-2.

The Anchors got a run back in the eighth when centerfielder Cal Stevenson came in to pitch. Hopfner and Richardson singled with two outs. Michael Riekerk reached on an error and the first baseman threw the ball away allowing Hopfner to score giving a final score of 14-2.

Matthys (1-2) got his first win of the season throwing seen innings. He allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk with one strikeout. Austin Cornish closed out the game with two scoreless innings. It wasn't easy as he walked three and gave up a hit but he struck out two batters.

Minnesota Baseball Academy Player of the Game - Josh Merrigan (CF) - The centerfielder finished the night 3-for-6 with three runs score and three RBI. His homer in the third inning was his third of the season.

Notes: The Blue Anchors hit the road for two games up in Duluth starting Friday night...The game, starting at 6:35 pm, can be seen live at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/nwl/.



Northwoods League Stories from July 2, 2015


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