Norse Drop Baseball Regional Qualifiers On Road
These stories were written by Mike Pankow, Bay College SID
The Bay Norse Baseball Team (10-18-1) dropped a pair of games on Saturday afternoon, losing a tightly contested 1-0 contest in the opener, then losing by a final of 7-2 in the second game against Dakota County Technical College (25-13).
GAME 1 - DAKOTA COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE - 1, BAY COLLEGE - 0
In a pivotal matchup that would go a long way in deciding which of the two teams will advance to postseason play, the Norse and Blue Knights found themselves in a well-played pitcher's duel. Bay's Justin Popelka (SO, Escanaba, MI) gave up five hits, one walk, and struck out seven with his effort.
The Blue Knights would send Dalton Hoffman (SO, Anoka, MN) to the mound, and he would not disappoint. He would give up just three hits, walk one, and strike out ten for the home team.
The lone run of the game would come early. Bradley Goulet (SO, Cottage Grove, MN) beat out a groundball in the hole to short to lead off the bottom of the first. He would advance to second on the ensuing out, and make his way home on Ian Walker's (SO, Forest Lake, MN) line drive single to right.
Goulet and Walker would each record two hits in the game. DCTC has now won the first three games of the best-of-seven series that will determine which of the two teams will advance to the NJCAA Region XIII Tournament. The remaining four games of the series will be played on May 3 and 4 in Escanaba, MI.
GAME 2 - DAKOTA COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE - 7, BAY COLLEGE - 2
The Norse would run into trouble early as the Blue Knights would pound out five consecutive hits to start the bottom of the first, scoring four runs in the process. The string was finally ended on what looked to be a sacrifice fly to right field, but Ty Ziegler turned it into a double play with a perfectly thrown ball to get the runner attempting to score.
While the play would get Bay out of trouble in the first, they would be right back into the thick of it in the second. After putting two on with one out, a ground ball would score another run for the home team. The Norse would work out of it again, but find themselves in a five run hole.
After giving up a run on a sacrifice fly in the third, the Norse were finally able to put together a threat in the fifth. Lucas Weinert (FR, Gladstone, MI) lined a double down the left field line to lead off the inning, and Kyler Moir(FR, Hillman, MI) singled to put two on.
With one out Dane VanDenHeuvel (FR, Norway, MI) would get hit with a pitch, and a ground ball would score the first run for the Norse. Owen Hanson (FR, Gladstone, MI) lined a single into center bring in a second run, but the inning would end with a pop out.
Dakota County added an insurance run in the bottom half of the fifth and Bay was never able to string together baserunners after that.
Weinert ended the game with two this in three at bats. Connor Olson (FR, Washburn, WI) was tagged with the loss for Bay. Mason Korhonen (FR, Bark River, MI) was effective in relief, giving up one run and walking one while striking out two in three and a third innings.
The two teams will face each other in Escanaba on May 3 and 4 to wrap up regular season play. Both days' doubleheaders are slated to start at 1 pm.
FRIDAY'S GAME SUMMARIES
The Norse Baseball Team (10-16-1) dropped a pair of games to in-region opponent Dakota County Technical College (23-13). The Blue Knights took a 6-0 decision and a 10-6 win at home.
GAME 1 - DAKOTA COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE - 6, BAY COLLEGE - 0
Alex Winslow (SO, Ham Lake, MN) baffled the Bay bats all game long, pitching a complete game shutout. He would strike out 13 and give up just four hits and two walks.
Dakota County would put the game out of reach in the third. After a leadoff walk, three consecutive doubles and a single brought five runs to the plate. The home team would hold a 6-0 lead after three.
Bay would leave seven runners on in the matchup, including stranding two in the fifth and two in the seventh.
Bradley Goulet (SO, Cottage Grove, MN), Parker Savard (FR, Sudbury, ON), and Trent Fredenberg (FR, Coon Rapids, MN) each collected two hits for the Blue Knights.
Tyler Skufca (SO, Escanaba, MI) took the loss on the mound, giving up five earned runs and striking out five in seven innings of work.
GAME 2 - DAKOTA COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE - 10, BAY COLLEGE - 6
Bay College would bat around in the first to claim a lead for the first time in the day. A one-out walk and a double by Mark Zhang (FR, Canberra, Australia) put runners on second and third. An error would plate the first run, followed by a hit by pitch. Kyler Moir (FR, Hillman, MI) doubled to bring in two more, and the Norse would grab a 4-0 lead in the early going.
Dakota County was able to cut into that lead in the first. Goulet led off with a double and scored on Ian Walker's (SO, Forest Lake, MN) one out double. The Blue Knights stranded the runner, but would keep the pressure on in the second.
Three Norse errors would aid the home team as they would get an RBI single from Savard, and a two RBI triple from Walker. Errors continued to plague the Norse in the third, as two more would help Dakota County score twice giving the Blue Knights an 8-4 lead after three innings of play.
In the top of the fourth Bay would cut that lead down. Just Popleka (SO, Escanaba, MI singled with one out, and would later score on an error, but the Norse would leave two on in the inning. Moir led off the sixth with a single, and an error would give Bay two on with no one out, down by three runs. A sacrifice bunt put two in scoring position. A groundout would plate one, but a strike out ended the inning with a runner left standing on third.
The Blue Knights added two in the bottom of the sixth. After a controversial call extended the at bat, Goulet tripled to lead off the inning. Savard followed that with a double, and scored on a sacrifice fly, giving Dakota County a 10-6 lead. The Norse would go quietly in the seventh, giving DCTC two important in-region wins.
Moir ended the game two for three with a double and two RBI. Logan Bailey (FR, Sault Ste. Marie, MI) took the loss for the Norse, pitching a complete game. He gave up four earned runs and nine hits, while striking out four and walking no one.
The Norse now find themselves in a 2-0 hole in the series to determine the NJCAA Region XIII participant from the eastern portion of the region.
The two teams are playing a best of seven series, with game three being the first game of tomorrow's doubleheader, scheduled at 1 pm. The remainder of the series will take place in Escanaba, MI on May 3 and 4.
