MARINETTE — An ignominious streak came to an end for the Marinette baseball team on Monday, as the Marines flattened Waupaca 7-2 in North Eastern Conference action from Dale Minzlaff Field at Pedersen Ball Park.
Monday’s victory marked the first time in nearly two years that Marinette had won back-to-back contests. The last time the Marines won consecutive games was April 19 and April 22 of 2022.
Four days removed from taking down Luxemburg-Casco, Marinette picked up its second straight win behind a dazzling pitching performance fromJustin Kruse, while the Marines came through offensively with a clutch sixth inning.
Kolton Goldsmith worked a leadoff walk before scoring on an error. Ethan Doubek then blasted an RBI-single to bring home Levi Hanson and turn what had been a close three-run contest into a big five-run cushion for the Marines.
Just like he had all afternoon, Kruse mowed through the first two Waupaca batters to lead off the seventh, striking out Jace Moen and Brennan Walsh, before turning the ball over to Hanson, who needed just three pitches to sit down Max Dolski and end the game.
Kruse collected the win on the mound after working six-and-two-thirds innings, allowing just two hits, two walks and two earned runs while fanning 10 Waupaca batters.
“That was probably the most complete team-game that we’ve had this year,” Marinette coach Mike Maedke said. “Justin had seven strikeouts through the first three innings and that set the tone for us. We didn’t have many hits to start the game, but we were able to score a couple of runs when we needed to. We were the aggressors and had Waupaca playing on their heels.”
Marinette opened the scoring in the bottom of the second after Wyatt Stauss hit an RBI-single to plate Chase MacGregor and make it a 1-0 affair.
The Marines looked poised to break matters wide open after a four-run outburst in the bottom of a third inning that saw MacGregor and Smith both score on wild pitches, while an RBI-single from Smith coupled with a sacrifice-fly by Sam Sommerfeldt gave Marinette a 5-0 advantage.
Waupaca, however, refused to go down quietly and cut into Marinette’s lead in the top of the fourth after Dolski scored off an RBI-groundout by Riley Bechard.
The Comets continued to chip away in the top of the fifth after Kruse hit Ashton Hernandez with a pitch to put a runner on first base.
Waupaca brought in Brennan Walsh to courtesy run for Hernandez, and Walsh used his wheels to score on an error and make it a 5-2 game.
Marinette out-hit the Comets by a 7-2 margin. MacGregor, Smith, Doubek, Stauss, Weston Hanson all had base hits, with Smith collecting a pair of base knocks.
Brady Johnson was saddled with the loss after lasting just three innings and allowing three hits and five runs (four earned) while issuing five free passes.
Due up
Marinette: The Marines traveled to Waupaca for their second game in as many days against the Comets, with results unavailable at press time.
Marinette is back on the diamond Friday for a home doubleheader against Denmark, with game one set for a 4:30 p.m. start time.
Marinette 7, Waupaca 2
Marinette 014 002 x — 7
Waupaca 000 110 0 — 2
WP: Kruse 6 2/3IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 10K
LP: Johnson 3IP, 3H, 5R, 4ER, 5BB, K
Leading hitters (Marinette): MacGregor 1x3, 2R, 2B, BB; Stauss 1x3, BB, RBI; Smith 2x2, R, BB, RBI; Doubek 1x1, 2BB, RBI
Most Popular
Comments / 0