Anchors use late rally to counter Rox

June 27, 2014 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Alexandria Blue Anchors News Release


Rochester, Minn. - The Alexandria Blue Anchors defeated the Mankato MoonDogs Thursday night at Franklin Rogers Park by a score of 5-4 in 11 innings. As the first half comes to a close the Anchors are now 8-22.

Aaron Gretz got the night started in the top of the second as he walked to leadoff the inning and moved to second on a Cam Duzenack single. Ben Allen followed up with a sacrifice bunt putting the runners in scoring position. Lukas Hermanson stepped up to the plate and hit a flair into right field to bring in both runners and put Alexandria up 2-0.

The MoonDogs answered in the bottom half of the fourth against starter Blake Bass. Tanner Rockwell doubled to start the inning and scored on a Spencer O'Neil base hit. A sac bunt moved O'Neil to second and Bretty Synek reached on a hit by pitch. Both runners pulled off a double steal and the throw by Hermanson on the steal attempt got a way and it allowed O'Neil to score. Dalton DeLeon collected a base hit bringing in Synek and Mankato grabbed a 3-2 lead.

Alexandria bounced right back in the fifth with a two-out rally. Dalton Leuschke walked and stole second with Kris Goodman up. Goodman drove a ball into the left-field corner to bring in Leuschke and tie the game at three. Roman Collins singled in Goodman and gave the Anchors a lead again at 4-3.

In the eighth, the MoonDogs were able to tie the game against Austin Smith. With a runner on second and two outs, Eric Schenck-Joblinske hit a double down the left-field line to score the tying run.

The game was scoreless until the 11th when the Blue Anchors again grabbed a lead. Aaron Gretz lined a double to the left-center gap with one out and he went to third when Duzenack reached on error. Jordan Lee came on to pinch hit and he drove in the go-ahead run with a single putting the Anchors up 5-4.

Mankato put together one last rally in the bottom half of the inning but Pete Gaustad was able to retire Rockwell to end the game and lock down the victory.

Bass had his best outing to date as he went six strong innings allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Smith pitched 3.1 innings with one run allowed on two hits and three strikeouts. Gaustad (1-0) picked up the win in his first outing as a Blue Anchor pitched 1.2 scoreless innings.

Minnesota Baseball Academy Player of the Game - Aaron Gretz (1B) - Gretz scored the winning run on Thursday and collected two hits.



Northwoods League Stories from June 27, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central