TRACY - Jackson’s bats went quiet through the middle innings Saturday during Game 2 of the Bulls’ best-of-3 series against Tracy in the First Nite and Gopher League playoffs.
Boy, did they wake up late in the contest.
The Bulls plated nine runs in the seventh and five more in the eighth to take a 17-4 win over the Express. That earned them a spot in the Region 13C Tournament with a 2-0 series win.
After Jackson scored one in each of the first three innings, Tracy scored one in the fifth and two more in the sixth to go up 4-3. Then, in the top of the seventh, control issues among the Express pitching staff opened the door to an offensive outburst.
A bunt single by Jeremiah Flatgard surrounded by four walks pushed two runs across to put Jackson up 5-4. Blaise Jacobsen followed all that with a two-run single that plated Andy Wolf and Ryan Rasche. Jacobsen and Mike Wierson scored on a basehit by Brett Larson to push the lead to 10-4, but the visitors weren’t done. Wolf cracked a single on which Shad Wacker and Larson both scored, putting the Bulls in control at 12-4 when Tracy finally got out of the inning.
Larson, Flatgard and Wolf all drove in runs to get things rolling in the eighth. A double by Rasche and a Kyle Luhmann single plated two more to bring the game to its final.
Zach Copley pitched the first six to get the win for Jackson. Kevin Holm and Pat Boggess pitched a scoreless inning each in relief. Larson had a big game at the plate with four RBIs and three runs scored. Luhmann, Wolf and Jacobsen drove in three apiece.
Jackson will find out who it plays next on Monday when Region 13C is seeded.
Jackson 111 000 95 - 17
Tracy 100 012 00 - 4
Hadley 10, Windom 8
HADLEY - A big sixth inning propelled Hadley to a 2-0 sweep in its best-of-3 series against Windom on Saturday.
The Buttermakers trailed 7-5 going into the home half of the sixth, but they sent four runners home to take the lead for good. They eventually took Game 2 10-8.
Both teams plated a pair in the first before going quiet for a couple innings. Three runs in the top of the fifth put the Pirates on top 5-3, but Hadley evened it up in the home half of the inning. Windom answered with two more before the home team made the final big rally.
Eric Wieneke got the win for Hadley, pitching 2 2/3 innings in relief. He allowed one run on four hits and struck out two in relief of starter Justin Reinsma. Nick Bruning came on to get the save by recording the final four outs. Tyler Knutson was stuck with the loss for the Pirates.
Max Zwart led the Buttermakers’ offensive attack by going 3-for-5 with a double, a triple and three RBIs. Joe Larson was 3-for-5 with an RBI with Alex Petersen going 2-for-4 and driving in two. Chris Halbur had two hits while Bruning tallied three ribbies.
Devin Nielsen went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs for Windom. Kirby Johnson was 2-for-2 and hit a two-run homer.
R H E
Win 200 032 010 - 8 12 1
Had 200 124 01x - 10 14 2
