Tigers rally past Long Prairie, fall to Cougars in Resorters action

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The Miltona Tigers baseball team used a ninth-inning rally to snap a two-game losing streak this past weekend.

The Tigers trailed 6-1 against Long Prairie before storming back to tie the game in the ninth and win it 7-6 in 10 innings. That came a day after Miltona dropped its second straight game to an undefeated Carlos team in a 3-0 decision.

The Tigers got two runs in the seventh inning against Long Prairie to cut their deficit to three runs at 6-3. That is how the score would stay until the ninth.

Mitch Kluver got the rally started for Miltona with a single to leadoff the last inning. Ryan Emter then coaxed a walk before Derick Swenson cut the Long Prairie lead to one with a two-RBI double.

Swenson was at third three batters later with two outs and still trailing by one. Cody Curry made sure the Tigers would not strand him there as he came through with a single to left that tied the game.

Chris Koep pitched his second scoreless inning of relief in the top of the 10th by striking out the side. Then with two outs and no one on, Kluver stretched a bloop hit into a double. That hustle paid dividends in the next at-bat when Emter sent a ground-rule double into left-center field for the walk-off winner.

The game winner was a fitting way to end a 4-for-5 day at the plate for Emter. Swenson finished with three hits on the day, while Curry and Kluver each collected two. Tyler Erickson, Jake Leuschke and Tim Vanderwerf each had a hit apiece.

Vanderwerf started on the mound and went five innings for Miltona. Curry relieved him to start the sixth before Koep picked up the win with two scoreless innings of relief.

The win halted what was a two-game losing streak for the Tigers. Carlos welcomed Miltona for the second consecutive game of the season between these two teams. The Cougars made sure they would sweep the season series behind the arm of Nate Hoelscher.

Hoelscher was dominant in this one, throwing a complete-game three-hitter to pick up the win. He struck out 12 and walked just one in the game.

He got a lead to work with in the sixth on a run-scoring error and a sacrifice fly by Justin Steidl to make it 2-0. Hoelscher then helped himself by adding an RBI single before the inning was over.

Hoelscher and Steidl each had two hits in the game to lead the Cougars’ offense. Joe Snaza, Brad Nyberg and Neil Jenzen had a hit apiece. Swenson, Curry and Leuschke collected the three hits for Miltona.

The loss for the Tigers spoiled a strong effort by starter Russ Hinrichs. Hinrichs went seven innings, scattering six hits, while striking out three. He did a good job pitching out of trouble as he stranded 10 Carlos runners on the day.

The Cougars moved to 10-0 with the win. Miltona sat at 8-2 after the split over the weekend.

The Tigers travel to Clarissa on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. before hosting Urbank at Bernie Steidl Field at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The Cougars welcome Clarissa to town tonight, Friday, at 8 p.m. Long Prairie then comes to town tomorrow for a 7:30 p.m. start time.

RESORTERS LEAGUE BASEBALL

FRIDAY, JUNE 12

Brandon-Evansville at Ashby, 8 p.m.

Clarissa at Carlos, 8 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 13

Osakis at Kensington, 2 p.m.

Barrett at Alexandria, 7 p.m.

Long Prairie at Carlos, 7:30 p.m.

Miltona at Clarissa, 7:30 p.m.

Urbank, bye

SUNDAY, JUNE 14

Brandon-Evansville at Barrett, 2 p.m.

Alexandria at Osakis, 1 p.m.

Ashby at Kensington, 2 p.m.

Urbank at Miltona, 2 p.m.

Long Prairie, bye

SATURDAY, JUNE 20

Urbank at Long Prairie, 7:30 p.m.

Barrett at Ashby, tba

Alexandria at Kensington, 3 p.m.

Clarissa, bye

SUNDAY, JUNE 21

Brandon-Evansville at Alexandria, 6 p.m.

Barrett at Kensington, 4 p.m.

Ashby at Osakis, 1 p.m.

Long Prairie at Clarissa, 3 p.m.

Miltona, bye

FRIDAY, JUNE 26

Carlos at Urbank, 8 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 27

Kensington at Brandon-Evansville, 7 p.m.

Osakis at Barrett, 2 p.m.

Alexandria at Ashby, 7 p.m.

Miltona at Long Prairie, 7:30 p.m.

Urbank at Clarissa, 2 p.m.

Carlos, bye

SUNDAY, JUNE 28

Ashby at Brandon-Evansville, 2 p.m.

Kensington at Osakis, 2 p.m.

Alexandria at Barrett, 2 p.m.

Carlos at Long Prairie, 7:30 p.m.

Clarissa at Miltona, 2 p.m.

Urbank, bye

FRIDAY, JULY 3

Kensington at Long Prairie, 7:30 p.m.

Alexandria at Brandon-Evansville, 7 p.m.

(Make up date)

SATURDAY, JULY 4

Osakis at Brandon-Evansville, 7:30 p.m.

(Make up date)

SUNDAY, JULY 5

(Make up date)

JULY 11-AUGUST 2

Playoffs

Tags: alexandria sports, area sports, sports, baseball, resorters, miltona, tigers, carlos, cougars