Brill's Serbiak tosses no-hitter as Millers split with Spooner Cardinals

The Brill Millers split their doubleheader Sunday with the Spooner Cardinals during Independent League action in Brill.

After being doubled up in the first game 10-5, the Millers had Joe Serbiak pitch a no-hitter in a 2-0 victory in game two.

Serbiak struck out nine in the complete game shutout. The only runners to reach base were from three walks, a hit batter and one Brill error.

Brill scored single tallies in the first and fifth innings. Bill Brown scored both runs as he began both frames with leadoff singles.

Brown and Hunter Ashlin were each 2 for 3, while Kirby Brunclik went 1 for 2 and Rece Dietrich and David Olson both 1 for 3.

In the first game of the doubleheader the Millers found themselves trailing after the first inning as two Brill errors allowed the Cardinals to score three runs on two hits. A four-run third put Brill in front but Spooner took back the lead in the fourth and broke open the game with a five-run sixth.

Brill’s third-inning rally all occurred with two outs. Brunclik had doubled and scored on a soft liner to right field from Brandon Johns. Ashlin followed with a base hit and then Tyson LaPoint drove a double into the right center gap to bring in two and tie the game. LaPoint ran to third on a throwing error attempting to get Ashlin at home, and in the next at-bat a wild pitch allowed LaPoint to score for the 4-3 advantage.

LaPoint was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Dietrich and Ashlin were each 1 for 3 and scored once.

Brill is 4-3 in league action and sits in second place behind Hayward, which is 4-0. The Millers return to action Saturday with a 1 p.m. first pitch at Haugen.