Springfield Falls in the Bottom of the Ninth
6/22/08
The Tigers took a trip down Highway 14 to Sleepy Eye for a Sunday afternoon contest with the Indians. Springfield took an early lead, but are unable to extend it given numerous opportunities. That would be the difference.
Brady Schwab started the top of the second with a double to left field. Dave Groebner reached on an error. Zach Sturm got a base hit to load the bases. Andy Moritz drove in the first run of the day with a single. Bryant Krebs knocked in the second run when he reached on a fielder's choice. The Tigers would leave the bases loaded in the inning, but with a 2-0 lead.
Brandon Wilhelmi took the hill for the visitors. In the third inning, he gave up a two-out triple. The runner came in to score on a wild pitch, making the score 2-1. The score would remain 2-1 as Wilhelmi allowed just two hits over the next five innings.
The Tiger offense had many opportunities to put more runs on the scoreboard after scoring two in the second inning. They were able to get at least one runner in scoring position in all but one of the last six innings of the ball game. Springfield was also unable to take advantage of the leadoff batter getting on base via a Sleepy Eye error in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. A final scoring chance was erased on a controversial play when a bunt was popped up, dropped, and turned into a double play to end the Springfield top of the ninth.
Wilhelmi quickly got the first two out of the Sleepy Eye half of the ninth. Then the Indians put together back-to-back base hits, getting runners at first and third. The next batter struck out on a pitch that catcher Andy Moritz wasn't able to hold on to. The runner from third came in to score. The throw to first base attempting to putout the batter, hit him in the back of the helmet. With the score tied, the next batter drew a walk before Andrew Woitas hit a single to center to drive in the winning run for Sleepy Eye.
Brandon Wilhelmi struck out a dozen Sleepy Eye batters and got tagged with the tough loss. Andy Moritz, Brady Schwab, and Marty Brandl led the offense for Springfield getting two hits each.
Springfield drops to 8-10 overall and 7-7 in the Tomahawk East with the hard loss. They'll have almost a week to rest up before a couple of games during Springfield's Riverside Days weekend. First, will be St. James on Friday night at 8pm. Saturday night the New Ulm Brewers will come to town for a 7pm match up. Go Tigers!
Linescore
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | LOB | |
| Springfield | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 12 |
| Sleepy Eye | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 8 |
Springfield Box
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | |||
| Wilhelmi, P | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Brandl, DH | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Haseleu, 2B/PR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Baier, 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | SAC(2) | |
| Schwab, SS | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2B, HP | |
| Groebner, LF | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| C. Moritz, LF | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Neidt, 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| C. Sturm, 1B/LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Z. Sturm, CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| A. Moritz, C | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Krebs, RF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | SAC | |
| 36 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | |||
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | |||
| Wilhelmi (L, 4-2) | 8 2/3 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 12 | ||
Pictures
