Faribault Lakers win in dramatic fashion, as Kline recognized for 400th game

The Faribault Lakers won their second game in a row in the most unusual way on a steamy Saturday afternoon.

With the game tied at 3-3 and the bases loaded, Xander Fitzsimmons was hit by a pitch to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-3 win against the Prior Lake Mudcats.

Joe Grote pitched seven solid Innings giving up only two runs with Adam Klein, playing in his 400th game as a Laker, picking up the win in relief, pitching only one inning in the 9th. Austin Rendler led the team in batting with 2 hits and 2 RBIs.

Prior Lake struck first in the top of the first inning, as Charlie Bredeson hit a solo home run to center field to make it 1-0 after 1 complete inning. The Lakers would come back with a run in the second inning to tie it up 1-1.

Nate Rost reached base on a dropped third strike and Aiden Tobin would double moving Rost to third. Fitzsimmons would drive in Rost on a ground ball out.

After a scoreless top of the inning in the third for Prior Lake, Faribault would put up a crooked number in the bottom. Grote walked and the hot hitting Rendler doubled on a line drive to left field. Rost would drive home Grote on a pop fly single. Tobin, who had a great day at the plate, would single as well scoring Rendler to make it 3-1.

Both pitchers would settle down and pitch scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth inning. Prior Lake would score their second run in the top of the sixth on another solo home run, this time by Cole Clausen on a six pitch at bat to make it 3-2.

Grote would pitch a scoreless seventh to keep it 3-2. Rendler would come in on relief and start off a little rocky hitting his first batter and mishandling a tough bunt to put runners on first and second. Two sacrifice outs later would score Prior Lake’s 3rd run. The run would be unearned and ugly to tie the game, but the lead nonetheless was gone.

After a scoreless ninth inning by both teams, the game moved into extra innings. The Lakers would return the favor on an ugly run for the win. Rendler got on base on a dropped third strike, Rost walked, and then the Mudcats intentionally walked Tobin, loading the bases and hoping for a force out at home.

Unfortunately for Prior Lake, they would lose in ugly fashion as reliever Johnny Houston would promptly hit Fitzsimmons at the plate to score Rendler and the winning run.

Adam Kline was recognized during the game for competing in his 400th town ball contest.

The Lakers would have no time for rest as they welcomed the Union Hill Bulldogs on Sunday for the last regular season game of the year. They ended up losing to the Bulldogs 15-5. The Lakers will begin the playoffs with a game against the Veseli Warriors on the road on Tuesday at 8 p.m.