ROCHESTER — A rally in the bottom of the seventh inning gave the Rochester Patriots a come-from-behind win over the Austin American Legion in the first game of Friday's doubleheader and that led to a sweep for the home team.
Austin Post 91 led by a run over the Patriots heading into the bottom of the seventh in the opening game of the First District twinbill. The Patriots then rallied for two runs and pulled out a 5-4 win.
The late game featured plenty of offense, but the result was still the same for Austin. The Patriots withstood a late rally from Post 91 and won 9-7 to complete the sweep.
"Even though we lost both games, the guys played hard and we were in it the whole way," Post 91 assistant coach Kevin Higbe said. "Brady Klingfus pitched a great game in the opener, but I left him in an inning too long. Their rally happened fast and we let it slip away in the bottom of the seventh."
Prior to the late collapse from Post, it appeared the visitors might win for the second straight game. Jack Miller delivered a pinch-hit double to ignite an Austin rally in the top of the seventh.
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Mike Tindal then hit a triple to plate Miller and give Post 91 the lead. Austin had a chance for an insurance run, but Tindal was left stranded on third base. Klingfus went the distance on the hill, but couldn't finish it off and took the loss.
In the late game, Post 91 scored two runs in the top of the first inning and this would be a see-saw affair. Mark Harber hit a two-run homer to give Austin the early lead.
Back came the Patriots with four runs in the bottom of the first off Post 91 starter Quinn Yocom. Austin then got a run in the top of the third to make it a 4-3 deficit.
Tindal started that rally with a single and went to second on a ground ball. Tindal later scored on an RBI single from Preston Higbe.
Yocom couldn't get out of the inning without giving up a few more runs. The Patriots scored two runs in the bottom of the third and added another in the fourth inning to chase the Post 91 starter from the hill. Joey Swatfager finished up in relief.
Harber continued his hot hitting with a double in the top of the fifth. He then scored on an error, but the Patriots countered with two runs in the bottom of the frame for a 9-4 lead.
Despite the big deficit, the Post 91 boys refused to quit. The visitors scored three runs and made things interesting in the top of the seventh.
Miller started the rally with a single. Caleb Whalen next reached on an error which left runners at second and third. Luke Mallory followed with a two-run single and the fun wasn't quite over.
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Tindal kept the rally alive by reaching base on another Rochester error. Higbe stroked an RBI single and Tindal cut the deficit to two runs, but Post 91 would get no closer.
Austin Legion (6-16) finishes the regular this afternoon on the road against the Rochester A's.
LEGION BASEBALL
FIRST GAME
Rochester Patriots 5, Austin 4
Austin#000#111#1#—#4#7#1
Patriots#011#001#2#—#5#10#0
Austin Post 91:Mike Tindal 2-for-3, walk, 3B, run, RBI; Quinn Yocom 1-for-4, 2B, run; Mark Harber 0-for-3, RBI; Joey Swatfager 1-for-3, run; Aaron Goetz 1-for-3; Adam McMasters 1-for-3; Jordan Lysne 0-for-1, HBP; Jack Miller 1-for-1, 2B, run. LP:Brady Klingfus 6 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 10 H, 3 BB, 4 K.
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SECOND GAME
Rochester Pats 9, Austin 7
Austin#201#013#0#—#7#12#2
Patriots#402#120#x#—#9#10#2
Austin Post 91:Tindal 2-for-4, 3B, SB, 3 runs; Preston Higbe 2-for-4, 2 RBI; Harber 3-for-3, walk, 2B, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Klingfus 1-for-4; Miller 1-for-4, run; Caleb Whalen 1-for-4, run; Luke Mallory 2-for-3, 2 RBI. LP:Yocom 3 1/3 IP, 6 R, 6 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 1 HB, 0 K. RP: Swatfager 2 2/3 IP, 3 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 2 K.
