Joe Serbiak and Hunter Ashlin combined to hold the Haugen Knights off the scoreboard as the Brill Millers won 8-0 in Saturday's Independent League contest at Haugen Ball Park.
In what was a close score throughout much of the game, Brill broke open the contest with a five-run top of the ninth inning on three hits. Serbiak and David Olson each had run-scoring hits in the frame.
Olson drove in four runs and was 2 for 4 with triple and run scored. Serbiak finished 2 for 3 as he reached base four times, scored two runs and drove in one. Kirby Brunclik and Josh Halverson also had two hits for Brill.
The Millers had loaded the bases with no outs on a walk, bunt single and hit batter to begin the ninth. With the infield in for the Knights, a chopper skipped into the outfield allowing two to score, although Haugen got the first out on a throw to third base.
A walk then put two on and Serbiak sent a lined shot into the left center gap to bring in one for the 6-0 advantage. With runners on second and third Olson delivered the final damage with a two-run single.
Serbiak threw the first seven innings, striking out nine and giving up three hits and walking three. Ashlin worked the final two frames with no hits, three punch outs and a walk.
Travis Thompson pitched all nine innings for Haugen, giving up nine hits and six walks, while striking out five. Seth Rowe had a hit and walk, while Cole Paulson and Nolan Rowe were each 1 for 4. Callub Paulson reached base three times on two walks and a hit-by-pitch.
Brill opened its scoring in the second inning. Tyson LaPoint walked, stole second and moved to third on an error. With one down Serbiak also drew a walk and stole second. Olson then hit the ball to center and it got past a diving center fielder allowing both runs to score and Olson to race to third on a triple.
The Millers tacked on one more in the fourth as Olson reached on an error, was sacrifice bunted to second and scored on a single from Bill Brown.
Haugen's best scoring opportunity came in the fifth as the Knights had runners on second and third with one out. Brill got an infield fly pop out for the second out but then Turner Swanson laced a ball to the deep left field corner. In left field for the Millers, Halverson sprinted back and caught the ball in his outstretched glove on the run preventing the Knights from scoring twice and making it a one-run ball game. The Knights also left two on base in the third and finished with seven runners left on base in the game. Brill had 10 runners left on base.
The Knights dropped to 2-3 in the Independent League. Haugen's game Friday night against Hayward had been postponed. The Knights are back in action Sunday when they host Blue Hills.
The Millers are now at 5-3 in the league and in second place. Hayward sits atop the standings at 4-0. Brill's next game is July 12 at Blue Hills.
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