The Windom Pirates mounted a late comeback Wednesday night, pulling ahead in the seventh inning to claim a 6-3 win over Hadley in the opening game of the Region 13C Tournament best-of-three series.
Down 2-0 in the fourth, Windom tied the game. Quintin Tietz led off with an infield single and took second on an error. After Tietz stole third, he scored on a wild pitch. Alex Fink then hit a triple to right-center field and scored on a Drew Rothenberger RBI single.
Hadley retook the lead in the top of the fifth and looked for more in the seventh after chasing Pirates’ starting pitcher Collin Lovell. Hadley put two runners on base against reliever Noah Armstrong, but a pop-out and a strikeout ended the threat.
It also gave the Pirates a shot of adrenaline. Noah Kloss led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to right-center. Joel Riordan and Brett Willaby each beat out bunt singles, loading the bases. With one out, Henry Erickson drew a bases-loaded walk, tying the game. Luke Gilbertson then hit a broken-bat blooper over the head of the Hadley shortstop, driving in a pair of runs for a 5-3 lead. After a bunt single from Tietz, Fink hit a sacrifice fly to deep right field, giving the Pirates a 6-3 lead.
Hadley tried to battle back, starting the top of the eighth with back-to-back singles against reliever Gilbertson, but a diving catch in right field from Riordan preserved the lead, and two pop-outs ended the threat.
Hadley again put a runner on base in the ninth, but a pair of flyouts ended the game.
Tietz led the Pirates with two hits in the win.
Lovell scattered seven hits and struck out eight in six innings of work. Armstrong earned the win, pitching an inning of shutout relief with two strikeouts. Gilbertson earned a two-inning save.
Game two of the best-of-three series will be played Saturday at 2 p.m. in Hadley. Game three, if necessary, will be played Sunday at Island Park, starting at 2 p.m.
Region 13C Tournament Scores
Luverne 15, Heron Lake 0 (Luverne leads series 1-0). Game two is Saturday at Heron Lake, 2 p.m.
Windom 6, Hadley 3 (Windom leads series 1-0). Game two is Saturday at Hadley, 2 p.m.
Fairmont 10, Lakefield 0 (Fairmont leads series 1-0). Game two is Friday at Lakefield, 7:30 p.m.
Jackson 17, Milroy 0 (Jackson leads series 1-0). Game two is Friday at Jackson, 7:30 p.m.
