Luverne 020 000 012 = 5-9-2
Windom 000 000 020 = 2-4-0
The Windom Pirates have seen their season pushed to a win-or-go-home series in the Region 13C playoffs.
Luverne held the Pirates in check Saturday afternoon at the Windom Recreation Area, claiming a second straight 5-2 win to sweep the best-of-three semifinal series 2-0.
The win lifted Luverne into the Region 13C championship series against Fairmont. Both teams have clinched berths in the Class C State Tournament. Meanwhile, the Pirates will now face Jackson in a best-of-three series, starting Wednesday in Jackson at 7:30 p.m. Game two will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Windom Recreation Area, while game three, if needed, will be Sunday in Jackson at 2 p.m.
Luverne scored two runs in the second and took a 3-0 lead in the eighth before the Pirates broke through. Brett Willaby led off with a single and Conner Redman was hit by a pitch. A fielder’s choice put runners on the corners and an errant pickoff attempt at first base allowed Willaby to score and Quintin Tietz to reach third.
Moments later, a ground ball by Luke Gilbertson was mishandled at shortstop, cutting the deficit to 3-2. A Noah Kloss single put runners at the corners and put the potential tying run at third, but a strikeout ended the threat.
Luverne added two insurance runs in the ninth to seal the win.
Willaby had two of the Pirates’ four hits. Ross Ackerman took the pitching loss, allowing five hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out four.
