VFW I baseball: Alexandria splits with Fargo

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It was a split for the Alexandria VFW I baseball team in their doubleheader with Fargo Monday, losing the first contest 10-8 and then used a walk-off single by Lucas Spencer for a 5-4 win in game two.

FARGO 10, ALEXANDRIA 8

A four-run first inning got Fargo off to a good start against Alexandria, but the VFW I squad managed to keep pace until the ninth, when Fargo took over for good.

Jake Booth struggled through the first frame, giving up four runs on three hits and a pair of walks. Fargo added another run in the second on a pair of walks and a pair of singles.

Cody McLauglin and Parker Bowden hit inning-opening doubles to start Alexandria’s second inning at the plate, with McLaughlin scoring on the hit by Bowden. Bowden came home as Booth slapped a two-out double.

Alexandria allowed Fargo to add another run in the top of the third, but the VFW I team cut the deficit to one with three in the bottom of the frame as Mitch Thompson walked and Trevor Krueger singled him home. A walk to Danny Kuhn, who replaced Booth in the third, and a walk to McLauglin loaded the bases with one out.

Bowden hit into a ground out, but Krueger scored on the play, and a single by Kaden Anderson scored Kuhn.

Each team drove in one run in the fourth, with Fargo adding another in the sixth before Alexandria tied the game in the bottom of the inning on an RBI grounder by Krueger and a walk by Bowden.

Unfortunately, Fargo had a little more in the tank, scoring a pair in the top of the seventh to take the lead for good and hand Chris Leary the loss on the mound.

ALEXANDRIA 5, FARGO 4

Lucas Spencer hit the game-winning single in the fifth to close out a four-run inning as the VFW I team edged Fargo 5-4 in the nightcap.

Starter Casey Hammerback gave up four runs in his three innings on the mound as Alexandria found itself in a 4-0 hole heading to the fourth.

It was then that Aaron Steidl drew a walk, advanced on a single by Spencer and scored on a two-out single by Danny Kuhn.

In the fifth, Alexandria found itself down to its last out when Grant Toivonen and Riley Hvezda both poked singles. Steidl added his own single to drive in Toivonen and McLaughlin rapped a two-run double to tie the game.

Spencer then ended the game with his RBI single to walk off a winner.

McLaughlin, who relieved Hammerback, got out of the fourth and fifth innings unscathed and gave Alexandria its opportunity for the win as he contributed a pair of RBIs in that fifth inning, earning the victory on the mound as well.

GAME SUMMARIES

FARGO 411 101 2 10-13-0

ALEXANDRIA 023 102 0 8-11-0

ALEXANDRIA PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – Jake Booth 2-5-5-5-4-1; Danny Kuhn 3-7-2-2-3-3; Chris Leary (L) 2-1-1-1-2-4.

ALEXANDRIA HITTING – Jake Bear 2-4, 1 run, 1 rbi, 1 bb; Toby Helgeson 3-5, 1 rbi; Mitch Thompson 1-3, 2 runs,2 1 bb; Trevor Krueger 3-4, 1 run, 3 rbi; Danny Kuhn 1 run, bb; Cody McLaughlin 1-2, 1 run, 2 bb; Parker Bowden1-3, 1 run, 2 rbi, 1 bb; Kaden Anderson 1-4, 1 rbi; Casey Hammerback 1bb.

FARGO 301 00 4-10-0

ALEXANDRIA 000 14 5-11-0

ALEXANDRIA PITCHING – Casey Hammerback 3-6-4-4-3-2; Cody McLaughlin (W) 2-4-0-0-2-1.

ALEXANDRIA HITTING – Lucas Spencer 2-4, 1 rbi; Danny Kuhn 1-3, 1 rbi; Travis Krueger 1 bb; Mitch Thompson 1-3; Jake Bear 1-2; Grant Toivonen 2-3, 1 run; Riley Hvezda 2-3, 1 run; Aaron Steidl 1-2, 2 runs, 1 bb, 1 rbi; Cody McLaughlin 1-2, 1 run, 2 rbi.

Tags: alexandria sports, sports, vfw, i, baseball