Rockets hit three home runs in offensive battle
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN
AUSTIN — The wind was blowing out Tuesday at the Riverland complex, and Rochester John Marshall lit up the scoreboard with 13 runs and 16 hits.
It was the home opener for Austin, but due to problems with the turf at Seltz Field they had to play at the smaller adjacent field.
The cozier confines, with the center-field fence only at 375 feet, led to an offensive display. A late rally by the Packers fell short, and the Rockets won 13-9 in the Big Nine Conference game.
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John Marshall led the whole way, though Austin scored seven runs in their last two at-bats to make it close.
"It was one of those days," JM coach Terry Heiderscheit said. "They started to hit at the end, and I started to wonder if we were ever going to get them out. The guys hit some hard balls and we got our first win."
The teams combined to bang out 30 hits on the day. That included eight doubles and three JM home runs. Jordan Rishavy hit a two-run blast over the center-field fence in the top of the first inning. Brian Ness and Ben Moen also hit homers.
Derek Hovick started on the mound for the Rockets and went six innings for the win.
"Derek did a nice job and he’s our No. 2 starter," Heiderscheit said. "There weren’t as many goofy plays as I thought there would be in the field, but every fly ball was an adventure (because of the strong winds)."
John Marshall is 1-1 in the Big Nine and overall.
Rochester JM 511 114 0 — 13 16 2
Austin 200 003 4 — 9 14 1
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WP: Derek Hovick 6 IP, 5 R, 3 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 4 K. LP: Jake Schmit 4 IP, 8 R, 6 ER, 9 H, 1 HB, 4 K.
MAYO 4, WINONA 3
Spartans win in extras
Mayo got a big boost from relief pitcher Garrett Benson and escaped with a nine-inning Big Nine Conference win at Mayo Field.
Benson entered the game in the seventh inning and picked up the win. He allowed no runs on no hits and three walks, while striking out two.
"That was a big positive for us," Mayo coach Dan Hoefs said.
Mayo won the game in the ninth when Travis Nordhus opened the bottom half of the inning with a triple over the center fielder’s head. Zach Sallee then drove him in, banging the ball past a drawn-in infield.
Nordhus, the No. 7 hitter in Mayo’s order, had three hits, including a triple and a double. Mitch Lund and Mitch Anderson added two hits apiece.
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Tim Meyer was the starting pitcher for Mayo. He worked the first 4-1/3 innings and was hurt by some errors behind him. Meyer allowed one unearned run.
Mayo also got some strong relief pitching from Aaron Aaland. He entered the game in the fifth inning with the bases loaded and one out, and only permitted one Winona run.
The Spartans are 2-0 in the Big Nine and overall. They play Mankato East in a double-header at 4 p.m. Thursday at Mayo Field.
Winona 000 012 000 — 3 5 3
Mayo 010 002 001 — 4 10 5
WP: Garrett Benson 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 K, 3 BB. LP: Trevor Semann 11⁄3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K.
OWATONNA 7, CENTURY 6
Comeback falls short
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OWATONNA — Rochester Century rallied in the late innings, but the Panthers couldn’t overcome one big inning by Owatonna.
The Huskies scored six third-inning runs and never trailed. They added one in the sixth, which turned out to be the game-winner.
Century scored one run in the fifth, four in the sixth and one in the seventh, when it left the bases loaded.
Adam Broich had two hits for the Panthers and Jordan Kangas had the team’s only extra-base hit, a double.
"The guys battled back well after getting behind," Century coach Keith Kangas said. "We swung the bats well and put the ball in play. We only had four strikeouts; that’s good early in the year."
Century (1-1 overall, 0-1 Big Nine Conference) plays host to Faribault at 5 p.m. Friday at Mayo Field.
Century 000 014 1 — 6 5 2
Owatonna 006 001 0 — 7 8 2
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WP: Kyle Melcher. LP: Mike DeBolt.
