By: Scott DCamp, Northland Communications
April 28–Thief River Falls, Minn. -
Northland Community & Technical College bounced back from an 11-1 loss in game one to claim 5-4 walk-off win over Minnesota North College - Hibbing Sunday afternoon at the Multi-Events Center in Thief River Falls.
Sunday's game time temperature was just under 40 degrees with a real-feel temperature in the high 20s. Both teams battled the elements, including a sustained wind from the northeast that added distance to fly balls headed to center and right-center field.
The Cardinals took advantage of the strong wind in game one and hit three home runs. Northland starter
Connor Hoyt pitche around two singles in the first inning ,and a walk and an error in the second, but he wasn't as fortunate in the third inning. After striking out Misael Santiago to lead off the inning, Hoyt hit the next two batters he faced in the third and MNC-Hibbing hitter Kritstopher Rivera made him pay with a three-run home run to right-center field. The three-run blast gave the Cardinals a 3-1 lead.
Hoyt got into trouble again in the fourth inning. He hit Santiago with one out in the inning, before surrendering a two-run home run to Owen Hindermann that made the score 5-1. The Cardinals would add two more runs in the fourth to end Hoyt's day.
The Cardinals added a run in the fifth as Hindermann belted a solo shot to deep center field, and they went up by 10 with three runs on one hit in the top of the sixth.
In addition to hitting a pair of home runs, Hinderman pitched a complete game three-hitter. The Pioneers scored their only run in the bottom of the first.
Isaac Mata drew a five-pitch walk to lead off the game. He moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Hoyt, and scored on a sacrifice fly by
Odhan Manhas.
The Pioneers have been a resilient team during the 2024 season and they proved it again in game two. The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
Jonathan Perez was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. He advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on an RBI double by Manhas.
Perez got the start on mound in game two and he kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard for the first four innings. He got into trouble in the fifth, however, with Cardinals scoring three runs on three hits. Two of the runs came on a two-run home run by Rivera.
The Cardinals added a run without recording a hit in the top of the sixth to go in front 4-1.
The Pioneers cut the deficit to one with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth.
Justin Amesquita singled to lead off the inning. Perez doubled to put runners on second and third, and both runners scored on a one-out double by Manhas.
The Pioneers got their third walk-off win of the conference season with two more runs in the seventh. Mata drew a one-out walk. He advanced to second on a passed ball and attempted to score on a single by Hoyt but was tagged out on a close play at the plate. With two outs, Amesquita reached on an error that allowed Hoyt to advance to second. Perez drew a six-pitch walk to load the bases.
Gamaliel Vasquez was hit by a pitch to move each base runner up a bag and allow Hoyt to score and tie the game, Manhas singled to right that allowed Amesquita to score the winning run from third.
In addition to scoring the winning run, Amesquita picked up the win on the mound. He pitched one and a third scoreless innings and struck out one batter.
The Pioneers (9-5, MCAC North, 16-14 overall) and Cardinals (9-5, 11-20) entered play with a tie for second place in the MCAC North and they remain tied with the two-game split. MNC-Itasca continues to hold the top spot at 10-4 in the conference and 22-14 overall.
April 28, 2024
Minnesota North College - Hibbing at Northland
Game 1
11
1
Line Score
| Final |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
| Minnesota North College - Hibbing |
0 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
11 |
11 |
2 |
| Northland |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
X |
1 |
3 |
1 |
Box Score
BATTING
HR: Owen Hindermann (2) , Kristopher Rivera
RBI: Owen Hindermann (3) , Kristopher Rivera (3) , Michael Hodsdon , Jhonny D. Saez (2)
BASERUNNING
SB: Bruce Slygh , Jhonny E. Saez
FIELDING
E: Bruce Slygh , Jhonny D. Saez
BATTING
RBI: Odhan Manhas
Sac: Connor Hoyt , Dennis Ashley
Sac Fly: Odhan Manhas
FIELDING
E: Odhan Manhas
| PITCHERS |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
HR |
| Owen Hindermann (W, 1-0) |
6.0 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
| Totals |
6.0 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
PITCHING
Batters faced: Owen Hindermann (27)
HBP: Owen Hindermann
PITCHING
Batters faced: Connor Hoyt (26) , Aidan Powell (10)
WP: Aidan Powell
HBP: Connor Hoyt (3)
April 28, 2024
Minnesota North College - Hibbing at Northland
Game 2
4
5
Line Score
| Final |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
| Minnesota North College - Hibbing |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
6 |
2 |
| Northland |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
2 |
