Marinette slips past Luxemburg-Casco for first NEC victory

MARINETTE — The Marinette baseball team picked up its first conference victory of the young season after nipping Luxemburg-Casco 3-2 at Dale Minzlaff Field at Pedersen Ball Park on Thursday.

Marinette (1-3 North Eastern Conference, 2-4 overall) entered Thursday’s contest still stinging from a 13-7 loss at the hands of the Spartans (2-2 NEC, 3-2 overall) on Tuesday.

The Marines jumped out to an early lead with a two-run outburst in the bottom of the first inning before Luxemburg-Casco managed to knot the score up at 2-2 thanks to runs in the top of the second and third innings, respectively.

Pitching ruled the middle innings until the Marines were able to plate the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth.

Levi Hanson picked up the final four outs to record his first career save. The freshman did not allow a hit and struck out two batters in one-and-one-third innings of work.

Copper Smith was the winning pitcher after authoring a five-and-two-thirds innings outing, replete with seven strikeouts and two walks to go with five hits and two runs (one earned).

Luxemburg-Casco out-hit Marinette 5-4 but struck out nine times compared to just four for the Marines.

Smith, Levi Hanson, Weston Hanson and Wyatt Stauss all tallied hits for Marinette. Stauss and Sam Sommerfeldt both had RBIs, while Chase MacGregor walked twice.

On deck

Marinette: The Marines begin a two-game set with Waupaca today (Monday) at 4:30 p.m. in Marinette. The Marines travel to Waupaca for game two on Tuesday, with first pitch set for 4:30 p.m.

Marinette 3, Little Chute 2

Marinette 200 001 x —

Little Chute 011 000 0 — 2

WP: Smith 5 2/3 IP, 5H, 2R, ER, 2BB, 7K

SV: L. Hanson 1 1/3 IP, 2K

Leading hitters (Marinette): Smith 1x2, R, BB; Stauss 1x3, RBI; W. Hanson 1x3, R; MacGregor 0x1, R, 2BB; L. Hanson 1x3; Sommerfeldt 0x2, SF, RBI