PREP BASEBALL: Beloit Turner bounced out of playoffs with 12-2 loss to Columbus

The Columbus baseball team’s offense proved to be simply too much for Beloit Turner as it racked up 10 hits and ended Tuesday’s WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal in five innings via the mercy rule with a 12-2 win.

The contest had been moved from the third-seeded Cardinals’ home field due to wet conditions, but Columbus certainly made themselves at home with the big victory.

The No. 6 Trojans took a 2-1 lead in the third when Noah Pfundheller walked, Jayden Piccione was hit by a pitch and, an out later, Brayden Ward singled to load the bases. Zack Ries grounded into a fielder’s choice to score a run and a second player came home on an error by the second baseman.

But the Cardinals (19-7) hit two singles and a walk to load the bases in the third before three-straight walks put them back in front 4-2. Back-to-back RBI singles and yet another walk with the bags full made it a seven-run third.

Four more runs came home in the fifth for Columbus to put an early end to the game.

The Trojans (12-11) were limited to singles by Ward, Fernando Tillery and Carston Jacobson as the Cardinals’ Axel Allain allowed just one walk and struck out six in five innings.

Turner used four different pitchers with Jacobson going the longest with two innings tossed as he allowed three hits and three earned runs with four walks.

Columbus will face second-seeded Waupun in the regional championship on Wednesday.

• COUGARS' PLAY SUSPENDED: Sixth-seeded Clinton's WIAA Division 3 regional semifinal against hosting No. 3 Lomira was suspended in the top of second inning due to rain.

The Cougars will be up 2-1 and have a runner on second with two outs when play resumes on Wednesday afternoon.

• LINESCORE:

COLUMBUS 12, BELOIT TURNER 2 (5)

BT;002;00;—;2;3;0

Col;107;04;—;12;10;1

Leading hitters: BT, Ward 1x2; Ries 0x2, 1 RBI; Tillery 1x2; Jacobson 1x2; Pfundheller 0x1, 1 Run; Piccione 0x1, 1 Run. Col, Allain 2x2, 2 RBI; Morby 1x2, 3 Runs, 2 RBI; Link 1x2, 2 Runs; Nachreiner 1x2, 2 Runs, 2 RBI; Gmeinder 2x3, 1 Run, 1 RBI; Towne 2x4, 1 RBI; Cowell 1x3, 1 RBI.

Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so): BT, Alfaro 0.2-0-1-1-3-0, Buckley 1.1-3-6-6-4-1, Jacobson 2.0-3-3-3-4-2, Mosley 0.2-4-2-2-0-0. Col, Allain 5.0-3-2-1-1-6.