Windom 110 000 102 = 5-6-2
Pipestone 000 400 11x = 6-11-2
Pipestone used a big four-run fourth inning to take the lead, then held off a late rally to defeat the Windom Pirates Saturday evening 6-5 in the Region 13C Playoffs at Pipestone.
Windom scored a pair of runs in the top of the ninth and had the potential tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, but a groundout ended the game.
The Pirates got off to a quick start, scoring in the top of the first when Alex Fink raced home on a wild pitch.
In the second, Alex Borsgard ripped an RBI double, giving Windom a 2-0 lead.
But Pipestone answered in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of a costly two-out error to score four runs, taking a 4-2 lead.
Windom pulled to within 4-3 in the top of the seventh on an RBI double from Fink, but the A’s scored single runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth, taking a 6-3 lead.
In the ninth, the Pirates tried to rally. Brett Willaby walked and Luke Gilbertson singled. With two on and one out, Fink launched a double that hit high off the right-center fence, scoring both runners. The hit came about a foot from tying the game.
After an intentional walk, a fielder’s choice retired the runner at third base. A walk loaded the bases, but the A’s coaxed a groundout to end the game.
Fink and Gilbertson each had two hits in the loss for the Pirates.
Kobe Lovell took the pitching loss, allowing four runs on six hits in six innings. He walked four and struck out six.
Game three of the series will be played Sunday at Island Park, beginning at 2 p.m.
