A late rally by John Marshall wasn't quite enough and the Rockets dropped their season-opening baseball game Saturday afternoon in Rochester.
Duluth East scored five runs in the second inning and held on for a 9-8 win in eight innings over JM in a non-conference game at John Adams field. The game originally was scheduled for Mayo Field.
Alex Welder went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs to lead JM's 8-hit attack. Blake Berquist and Nathaniel Benson both homered for Duluth East.
JM head coach Dutch Heiderscheit said it was a "pretty well played game" considering game-time temperatures in the low 30s. Sunny skies and light wind helped.
Heiderscheit said it was advantage to the batters in this first game of the season for both teams.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We hung in and caught them to make a game of it," said Heiderscheit. "Both teams hit the ball pretty well; tough day to get a grip on that ball pitching."
Logan Saltou, Matthew Dravis and Jack Boehm pitched for JM, with Boehm taking the loss in one inning of relief.
JM is home against Century on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Duluth East 9, JM 8, 8 innings
Duluth East#050#012#01#—#9#11#2
John Marshall#100#223#00#—#8#8#2
Duluth East: Zwak 2-for-5; Benson 1-for-2 1 HR; Berquist 1-for-4 1 HR; Rashid 2-for-4; Aplin 3-for-4. Pitchers:Not provided.
John Marshall: Alex Welder 2-for-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI. Pitchers:Logan Saltou 4 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K; Matthew Dravis 3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K; Jack Boehm (LP) 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K.
ADVERTISEMENT
