By: Scott DCamp, Northland Communications
April 13 – Thief River Falls, Minn. -
Northland Community & Technical College scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to claim game one of a doubleheader 8-7 against Minnesota North College Saturday at Pioneer Field in Thief River Falls. The walk-off win came exactly one week after the Pioneers rallied from a 4-2 deficit to defeat MNC-Vermilion 5-4 with a run in the sixth and two runs in the seventh inning.
Jonathan Perez singled to lead off the inning. Gamaliel Vazquez was hit by a pitch, with Perez moving to second on the play, and both runners moved up a bag when
Auden Venegas reached on an error. Perez and Vasquez both scored on an RBI single to center by
Dennis Ashley that tied the game 7-7, with runners on the corners and still no outs.
The Vikings got their first out when MNC-Itasca pitcher Tanner Hill struck out
Tyler Tamez. With the game on the line, MNC-Itasca brought its infield in, which allowed Ashley to steal second during Tamez's at-bat. With first base open, the Vikings opted to intentionally walk
Isaac Mata to again load the bases and have a force-out at every bag. In the end, the decision wouldn't matter as the Pioneers' next batter,
Connor Hoyt drove in the game-winning run on a single to right right field.
Hoyt started game one for the Pioneers and allowed six runs, five of which were earned, on eight hits in six innings of work. He walked two and struck out four. Three of the runs charged to Hoyt came on a pair of home runs that took advantage of a wind blowing out to left field.
Justin Amesquita picked up the win in relief for the Pioneers. He allowed a run on one hit and struck out one batter in his one inning of work.
Last week, the Pioneers' walk-off win in game one jump-started the team as it went on to sweep MNC-Vermilion in a four-game set. The Pioneers were unable to replicate the same results Saturday with a 3-2 loss to the Vikings.
Ashley got the game-two start for the Pioneers and allowed three runs, two earned, in two and a thirds innings of work.
The Vikings scored an unearned run in the top of the first and two more on one hit in the third. The Vikings 3-0 lead appeared to be insurmountable for most of the game as MNC-Itasca starter Gage Lund scattered six hits over the first six innings. The Pioneers got to him in the seventh, however. With one out in the inning, Veneges was hit by a pitch and Tamez hit a two-run home run to center field that made it a 3-2 game. Mata drew a six-pitch walk, Hoyt singled and
Odhan Manhas was hit by a pitch to load the bases with just one out.
Lund was pulled from the game in favor of game-one loser Hills. Unlike game one, Hills was locked in for his second save opportunity of the day. He got Amesquita to ground to first, with MNC-Itasca first baseman Kole Paulson firing the ball to plate to get the forceout on a fielder's choice. Hill then got Perez to strikeout to end the threat.
The Pioneers and Vikings continue their series Sunday afternoon with games three and four at MNC-Itasca in Grand Rapids, Minn.
April 13, 2024
Minnesota North College - Itasca at Northland
Game 1
7
8
Line Score
| Final |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
| Minnesota North College - Itasca |
2 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
9 |
4 |
| Northland |
1 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
8 |
13 |
4 |
Box Score
BATTING
2B: Layton Rivas
HR: Carter Kalin , Braxton Jorissen
RBI: Layton Rivas , Kole Paulsen , Carter Kalin (2) , Gage Lund , Braxton Jorissen , Garron Opsahl
GIDP: Kollin Bonneville
BASERUNNING
SB: Kole Paulsen , Braxton Jorissen
FIELDING
E: Kollin Bonneville (2) , Brett Lucko , Tanner Hills
DP: Kollin Bonneville , Gage Lund , Brett Lucko
BATTING
RBI: Connor Hoyt , Odhan Manhas , Jonathan Perez , Gamaliel Vasquez (2) , Dennis Ashley (3)
Sac: Auden Venegas , Dennis Ashley
GIDP: Justin Amesquita , Jonathan Perez , Gamaliel Vasquez
BASERUNNING
SB: Justin Amesquita , Dennis Ashley
FIELDING
E: Connor Hoyt (2) , Gamaliel Vasquez (2)
DP: Odhan Manhas
PITCHING
Batters faced: Kyle Rutherford (29) , Tanner Hills (9)
HBP: Kyle Rutherford , Tanner Hills
PITCHING
Batters faced: Connor Hoyt (29) , Justin Amesquita (5)
WP: Connor Hoyt
HBP: Justin Amesquita
April 13, 2024
Minnesota North College - Itasca at Northland
Game 2
3
2
Line Score
| Final |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
| Minnesota North College - Itasca |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
| Northland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
1 |
