Baseball team blanks Fergus Falls

• Shawn Krueger

Echo Press photo by Eric Morken Shawn Krueger pitched two innings for the Cardinals, who defeated Fergus Falls 3-0 Tueday night. Krueger and xolin Erickson combined for a shutout against the Otters.

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The Cardinal baseball team picked up its first win of the season on Tuesday night behind a strong pitching performance from Colin Erickson.

Erickson threw five shutout innings, scattering five hits and striking out eight, to propel Alexandria to a 3-0 win over Fergus Falls.

Sophomore Dalton Leuschke has stepped right into the Cardinals’ lineup at shortstop this year and provided a consistent bat in the lineup. Leuschke had two hits, including a single that drove in Parker Giroux for Alexandria’s first run.

Tyler Iverson extended that 1-0 lead in the sixth with a bases-loaded single to make it 2-0. Mark Whiting was then credited with an RBI after a bases loaded walk made it 3-0.

Shawn Krueger came on for Erickson in the sixth inning to pick up the save. Krueger worked two innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.

Lucas Betterman and Iverson were named the players of the game by head coach Russ Hinrichs after the game. Iverson’s pinch-hit RBI in the sixth gave his pitchers some room to work with, while Betterman called the shutout from behind the plate.

“Lucas has stepped up in the absences of our injured catcher and captain, Dylan Carlson. [Lucas] is really working hard to improve and handle the pitching staff. Anytime your pitchers throw a shutout, a lot of credit needs to go to the catcher.”

The Cardinals moved to 1-2 in the Central Lakes Conference with the win.

GAME SUMMARY

ALEXANDRIA – 001 002 0 – 3 6 2

FERGUS FALLS – 000 000 0 – 0 6 1

ALEXANDRIA PITCHING – Colin Erickson – (W) 5IP, 5H, 0R, 0ER, 3BB, 8SO; Shawn Krueger – (S) 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 2SO

ALEXANDRIA HITTING – Zac Beireis – 1-2, BB; Dalton Leuschke – 2-4, RBI; Ross Thompson – 1-4; Colin Erickson – 1-3; Jordan Erickson – 1 run; Walker Giroux – BB; Ben Snaza – 1 run; Karl Brezina – BB; Tyler Iverson – 1-1, RBI; Mark Whiting – RBI, BB; Parker Giroux – 1 run

Tags: sports, alexandria, cardinals, baseball, fergus, falls