HTL: Fort Generals use 4-run rally in 5th to upend Evansville Jays

Fort Atkinson’s four-run fifth inning included Camron Wolter’s go-ahead two-run single as the Generals defeated Evansville 4-2 in a Home Talent League Sunday League baseball game at Jones Park.

Fort quickly loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth as Isaac Heederik drew a four-pitch walk, Branden Zastrow bunted for a hit and Josh Crandall also bunted, reaching safely on pitcher Will Peterson’s error.

Jake Hansen dug in next, singling a line shot to left field on a two-strike count to tie the game at 2-2.

After Drew Dunkleberger struck out and Kroix Kucken drew a walk to reload the bases, Wolter, on a 1-0 count, singled on a ground ball to second base. Crandall scored on the play with Hansen coming around on the throw to make it 4-2.

Peterson got out of the jam by striking out Jay Rueth and Skyler Schmuck.

Austin Paul started for the Generals (3-1) and pitched seven innings in the win. He allowed two earned runs on three hits and struck out five with two walks while retiring his final seven hitters.

Zastrow pitched two no-hit frames to end it, striking out three while also walking three.

Fort’s rally in the bottom of the fifth came after single runs in the fourth and fifth innings for Evansville (1-2).

Hansen threw out a runner trying to steal second for the first out of the eighth while Zastrow navigated around a lead off walk in the ninth.

Fort hosts Utica next Sunday at 1 p.m.

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Fort 000 040 00x — 4 5 0

Evansville (ab-r-h-rbi) — Borchardt 2-0-1-1, Nolden 4-1-1-0, T. Syse 4-0-0-0, C. Syse 2-0-0-0, Anderson 4-0-0-1, Kopecky 4-0-0-0, Lavery 3-1-1-0, Cashore 2-0-0-0, Harris 2-0-0-0, Peterson 1-0-0-0. Totals 28-2-3-2.

Fort Atkinson (ab-r-h-rbi) — Zastrow 5-1-1-0, Crandall 3-1-0-0, Hansen 3-1-1-2, Dunkleberger 4-0-0-0, Kucken 2-0-0-0, Wolter 4-0-2-2, Rueth 3-0-1-0, Schmuck 4-0-0-0, Heederik 2-1-0-0. Totals 30-4-5-4.

Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) — E: Peterson L; 5-5-4-3-4-8, Kopecky 3-0-0-0-3-3; FA: Paul W; 7-3-2-2-2-5, Zastrow 2-0-0-0-3-3.