Post-Bulletin staff
Rochester Mayo took advantage of Rochester John Marshall’s miscues and the Spartans won 10-8 in a season-opening Big Nine Conference baseball game Monday night at Mayo Field.
Mayo rallied for four runs in the top of the fourth inning, taking advantage of three walks and three hit batters. Zach Sallee provided a bases-loaded single to score two runs.
Besides the three hit batters, JM also had four errors in the field, while Mayo committed only one.
"We obviously didn’t play very well, with the errors, the walks and the hit batters," JM coach Terry Heiderscheit said. "We need to get the ball over the plate better.
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"We know that Mayo is always going to be tough, but I’m a little disappointed that we didn’t play better."
JM out-hit Mayo 10-7. Brian Ness was 2-for-4, Joe Moen 2-for-3, and Bryce Odegarden was 1-for-3 with a three-run homer off the top of the right-field fence.
For Mayo, Mitch Lund was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Lund hit a two-run homer over the left-center wall in the first inning, and added a run-scoring double in the third. Tony Nierman had a run-scoring single in Mayo’s two-run sixth, for the winning runs.
"Early in the season it is harder to hit, but both teams came out and swung the bat," said Mayo coach Dan Hoefs.
Kelby Halling was the winning pitcher, scattering five hits with eight strikeouts in five innings. For JM, Spencer Brady had control problems, with five walks and three hit batters in 4 2/3 innings.
"There were a few question marks but we came out and performed well," Hoefs said. "We did well considering the conditions, but it was cold out there."
Both teams are in action today. Mayo is home against Winona, and JM is at Austin.
MAYO 10, JOHN MARSHALL 8
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Mayo 201 142 0 — 10 7 1
John Marshall 003 004 1 — 8 9 4
2B: Mayo, Lund. HR: Mayo, Lund; JM, Odegarden.
WP: Halling 5 IP, 6 H, 8 K.
LP: Brady 4 2/3 IP, 5 BB, 3 HBP
