MAUSTON – Fifth-ranked Pecatonica scored four times in the top of the ninth inning to slip past Shullsburg/Benton, 7-4, in the opening game of their Six Rivers doubleheader, but the Miner-Zephyrs turned the tables in game two using a five-run rally in the fifth inning to hand the Vikings their first loss of the season, 9-5, and earn the split at the Woodside Sports Complex in Mauston on Friday, May 1.
The Miner-Zephyrs (7-8 overall, 7-6 SRW) held a 3-2 lead going into the seventh inning in game one, however the Vikings plated the run they needed to force extra innings and then took the lead with their four-run rally in the ninth. Shulls/Ben tallied a run in the bottom of the ninth but they could get no closer as the Vikings remained unbeaten.
AJ Hendrickson went the distance for the Vikings to earn the win, allowing four runs on 10 hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Brant Gille (3-3) pitched eight innings for the Miner-Zephyrs, yielding four earned runs on nine hits and three walks with 11 Ks.
Hunter Matye hit an inside-the-park home run in the fourth inning, and Gille had a two-run single in the sixth to put S/B ahead 3-2.
Brock Knautz went 2-for-4 for S/B.
The loss dropped the Miner-Zephyrs to 1-2 in extra inning games this season.
In game two, the Vikings held a 3-2 lead after four innings of play, but it was the Miner-Zephyrs turn to rally as they scored five times in the top of the fifth to grab a 7-3 advantage.
Pec scored twice in the sixth to cut the deficit to 7-5, but Gille added two insurance runs in the seventh to lock up the 9-5 decision for the split.
H. Matye went 4-for-4 to lead their 12-hit attack. Gille finished 3-for-5 in the game and Nathan Wedige was 2-for-4 with a double.
Wyatt Cook (3-2) earned the complete-game win, allowing four earned runs on six hits with five walks and 12 strikeouts.
The Miner-Zephyrs also split their two Six Rivers West games over the past week, defeating Cassville by a score of 7-3 at CHS on Tuesday, April 28, and falling to Potosi, 4-1, at PHS on Monday May 4.
Gille went 2-for-4 with three RBI and Cook added two RBI in the win over the Comets.
Cook, Gille and Brett Matye each had two hits on Monday’s game as the Miner-Zephyrs outhit the Chieftains, 9-7.
Cook also suffered the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks with 10 Ks.
Shullsburg/Benton has a Six River crossover doubleheader at Argyle on Friday, May 8, at 4:30 p.m., and a Six Rivers West game at River Ridge on Tuesday, May 12, at 5 p.m. Their non-conference game against Southwestern on Monday, May 11, was cancelled. It may be rescheduled for later in the season.
GAME ONE
Pecatonica…. 101 000 104 – 7 10 1
Shulls/Bent… 000 102 001 – 4 10 3
Leading Hitters: Brock Knautz 2x4. HR– Hunter Matye.
WP- AJ Hendrickson. LP- Brant Gille.
GAME TWO
Shulls/Bent… 110 050 2 – 9 12 5
Pecatonica…. 002 102 0 – 5 6 5
Leading Hitters: Brant Gille 3x5, Hunter Matye 4x4, Nathan Wedige 2x4. 2B– Wedige.
WP- Wyatt Cook. LP- Kleppe.
Shulls/Bent… 004 102 0 – 7 7 1
Cassville…… 002 010 0 – 3 10 5
Leading Hitters: Brant Gille 2x3. 2B– Nathan Wedige.
WP- Gille. LP- Reynolds.
Shulls/Bent… 000 000 1 – 1 9 1
Potosi…......... 100 120 0 – 4 7 2
Leading Hitters: Brett Matye 2x3, Brant Gille 2x4, Wyatt Cook 2x4. 2B– Brock Knautz.
WP- Udelhoven. LP- Wyatt Cook.
