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Fielders Fall 8-7 in Four-Hour, 11-Inning Marathon

June 1, 2011 - North American League (NAmL)
Lake County Fielders News Release


Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii - May 31, 2011 - The lead changed back and forth between both clubs, and after more than four hours and 11 innings of play, it was the home Maui Na Koa Ikaika who knocked off the Lake County Fielders, 8-7.

The offense was stagnant through the first three innings of the games, with both teams having one hit apiece. The Fielders got first blood in the top of the 4th inning, when left fielder Argelis Nunez hit a one-out double. Following Nunez was first baseman C.J. Ziegler who belted a two-run homer in front of the scoreboard in left-center field at Iron Maehara Stadium. For Ziegler, it was his fourth home run of the season, and his second off of Maui starting pitcher Ryan Page.

Maui struck back with a home run of their own in the bottom of the 4th inning, when third baseman Nick Fitzgerald blasted a solo roundtripper to nearly the exact same location of Ziegler's homer. They would take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the 5th inning with RBI singles from centerfielder Mitch Einertson and first baseman Stephen Pearson.

The Fielders responded back immediately in the top of the 6th inning with two outs. Nunez hit another double and was followed by a single from Ziegler. With runners at the corners, right fielder Matt Mansilla hit a screaming line drive off of Maui second baseman Kyle Muhlsteff's glove to drive in the game-tying run.

With a 3-3 score and both starting pitchers exiting as the 7th inning began, for the fourth straight game, the bullpens would determine the outcome. Maui reliever Jung Ho Yeo struggled to begin the 7th inning, giving up a single to Fielders catcher Matthew Redding, Jr., and back-to-back walks to pinch-hitter Brad Payne and second baseman Brandon Newton. Yeo gave way to John Holley, Jr., who had to face shortstop Rex Rundgren with the bases loaded and nobody out. With the Maui infield playing in on the grass, Rundgren laced a hard groundball down the third base line for a two-run double, giving Lake County a 5-3 lead. Newton was brought home on a sacrifice fly by centerfielder Lino Garcia, to give the Fielders a 6-3 lead. The lead would be short-lived.

The bottom of the 7th inning proved to be Maui's single-best half-inning of the series. The Na Koa Ikaika scored four runs on two hits, including two walks and a hit batsman. But, it was pinch-hitter Jowen Murray-Thornton's bases-clearing, three-run triple that capped the inning and gave Maui a 7-6 lead. It took three Lake County relief pitchers to get out of the inning.

However, it was more shoddy work from the Maui bullpen that gave the Fielders a second chance. Holley, Jr. remained in the game to pitch the top of the 8th inning, and he fell apart. He hit Mansilla with a pitch to start the inning. And with one out, Holley issued walks to Redding, Jr. and pinch-hitter Quentin Luquette to load the bases. Newton stepped to the plate, and he too drew a walk, bringing home the tying run. Holley, Jr. exited the game after the Newton walk, but the damage was done; the Fielders tied the game at 7-7.

The game would remain tied up until the bottom of the 11th inning, despite feverish tries from both teams in the 10th inning. Fielders reliever/pitching coach Chris Thompson (0-1) issued a leadoff walk to Maui shortstop Gered Mochizuki. Mochizuki was bunted over to second base, and eventually scored on two wild pitches thrown by Thompson, giving Maui another walk-off win in the 11th inning, their second in three nights. Charles Tiffany, Jr. (2-0) picked up the victory in relief for Maui, pitching a perfect inning in the top of the 11th inning.

The Fielders will conclude their seven-game series with Maui on Wednesday evening. The probable pitching matchup features a rematch from game two of the series, with Fielders lefty Jino Gonzalez (1-0) countering Maui's Dan Delucia (0-1). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm local time (11:35pm central). You can listen to the game on 1220 AM WKRS or online at fieldersbaseball.com or wkrs.com.

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