Beloit Junior Legion Bandits go 0-3 in Fort Atkinson tournament

FORT ATKINSON, Wis. — The Beloit Junior Legion Bandits dropped a pair of close games over the weekend as it went 0-3 in the Fort Tournament at Jones Park.

The Bandits had a tough go against Mukwonago, falling 14-5, but battled back in two hard-fought setbacks with a 4-3 loss to Fond du Lac and a 7-5 loss to host Fort Atkinson.

Mukwonago jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first on Friday but Beloit battled back to knot it up in the bottom half of the frame.

Kayden Tyler walked and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch, and Carter Middleton’s infield single with the bases loaded and two outs allowed a runner to score. A second Bandit scored on a throw and another touched home off an error to make it a tie game.

But Fort Atkinson scored two runs in both the second and third and piled on five runs on the fifth to make it 13-4.

Will Erickson walked to begin the bottom of the fourth and came around to score on a passed ball for Beloit’s fifth run.

Austin Driver and Middleton each had two hits for the Bandits. Middleton took the loss as he allowed eight runs (seven earned) in three innings with nine walks and three strikeouts.

A two-run single by Willmy Henriquez and a steal of home by Hayden Wells gave Beloit a 3-0 lead in the first inning against Fond du Lac on Saturday.

But it was the only offense the Bandits, who were outhit 6-3, could muster as Fond du Lac scored single runs in the third through sixth inning to slowly overtake the lead.

Jaxson Walenga allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and five walks in five innings with five strikeouts. Erickson threw two scoreless innings with a strikeout.

A three-run fifth inning helped Beloit cut Fort Atkinson’s lead to 7-5 but it couldn’t find enough offense in the sixth as it fell short in Saturday’s night cap.

Austyn Kjendlie replaced Erickson, who had walked, as a pinch runner, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on an error. Diego Batista later stole home and Walenga’s RBI groundout made it a two-run game.

A Fort Atkinson fielder dropped Henriquez’s pop fly in the first that allowed Walenga, who had singled, to score and give Beloit a 1-0 lead. Batista scored on a dropped third strike in the third to up it to 2-1 but Fort Atkinson scored four runs in the third to take the lead for good.

The Bandits were outhit 6-2 but drew five walks.

Cates started and allowed seven earned runs on six hits and seven walks with four strikeouts. Erickson threw a hitless fifth with two strikeouts.

Beloit is back in action for a doubleheader at Whitewater on Tuesday. Game one starts at 5 p.m.