Windom 101 010 0 = 3-6-1
Luverne 010 001 0 = 2-5-3
The Windom Eagles made the most of their scoring chances Thursday, securing a 3-2 victory at Luverne in the Section 3AA playoffs.
Windom capitalized on aggressiveness on the bases and had timely hitting to build a 3-1 lead. The Eagles then turned the game over to their bullpen and defense, stifling two late scoring opportunities for the Cardinals.
Windom got on the board in the top of the first. Hayden Tietz led off the game with a double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.
The Cardinals tied the game in the second on a solo home run, but the Eagles regained the lead in the top of the third. Matt Redman reached on an infield single, stole second, moved to third on an errant pickoff attempt and scored on a two-out single from Soren Nielsen.
The Eagles padded the lead in the fifth. Tietz led off with an infield single, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a Nielsen RBI single.
The Cardinals mounted a threat in the fifth with runners on second and third with one out, but a strikeout and flyout ended the threat.
In the sixth, Luverne put runners on the corners with a pair of singles and scored on a balk, but a flyout ended the threat.
In the seventh, the Cardinals put a runner on base on an error with two outs, but a strikeout ended the game.
Tietz and Nielsen each had two hits in the win for the Eagles.
Stevie Meyer earned the pitching win, working the first four innings. He allowed a run on three hits, walked two and struck out three. Tietz earned the save, working the final three innings. He allowed a run on two hits, striking out five.
MLAC 110 000 0 = 2-5-3
NUC 122 000 x = 5-7-1
Mt. Lake Area/Comfrey held the lead early, but New Ulm Cathedral took the lead in the second and padded the lead in the third, holding off the Wolverines for a 5-2 victory in the Section 2A playoffs at New Ulm’s Johnson Park.
The loss ended MLAC’s season with an 11-11 overall record.
The Wolverines took a lead in the top of the first. Heber Morales reached on a one-out double and scored on a sacrifice fly from Khalid Fontanez.
Cathedral answered in the bottom of the first, but the Wolverines regained the lead in the top of the second. Ram Vasquez led off with a single. Tryton Khounsanthone then reached, beating out a sacrifice bunt attempt for a base hit. Thomas Hesse walked, loading the bases. After a fielder’s choice led to a runner thrown out at home, Landon Simon drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk.
But Cathedral answered in the bottom of the second, taking the lead with a two-run double. Cathedral then got a run on an error and an RBI single in the third.
The Wolverines had runners in scoring position in the third and in the seventh but could not score.
Khounsanthone had two hits in the loss.
Simon took the complete-game pitching loss, allowing seven hits and three walks while striking out three.
Next games: Check for updates after each game.
Windom: vs. Montevideo (at Marshall), May 30
