Tigers Battle, Even Series Winning Thriller
8/2/09
Springfield returned home to Riverside Park on Sunday night for game two of their best-of-three series against Stark. They had to battle the Longhorns and Mother Nature to pull out a victory in the bottom of the ninth, evening the series at one game a piece and forcing game three on Tuesday back in Stark.
Brandon Wilhelmi took the ball for the Tigers and the Longhorns were able to find the gaps with regularity which helped them build an early lead. A lead-off triple in the top of the second, followed by a ground-out put Stark on the board. They got three hits in the top of the third, including a lead-off double and an RBI triple to plate two runs and take a 3-0 lead.
Andy Moritz was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the third. After two were out, Matt Baier ripped on RBI single to score Moritz. Brady Schwab followed with a base hit before Ryan Sturm crushed a double to deep right field, driving in two runs and tying the game at three. The Longhorns didn't stay down long as they started the fourth with another extra base hit, followed by a sacrifice bunt. An RBI ground out gave them back the lead, 4-3. Springfield left a total of five runners on base in the fourth and fifth innings, but were unable to push any across the plate.
After Wilhelmi recorded the first out and gave up a double in the top of the seventh, Matt Tews came on in relief and recorded the final two outs of the inning. In the top of the eighth, Stark extended their lead, getting a lead-off single and taking advantage of a Springfield error. Thunder and lightening were in the air as the Tigers came to bat in the bottom of the eighth, trailing 5-3. Ryan Sturm was hit by a pitch to start things. Marc Salazar worked a walk and Tews loaded the bases with a bunt single. With rain coming to come down, Chris Sturm drew a walk, pushing across Ryan Sturm and getting the Tigers within one, 5-4.
The game was suspended with the bases loaded and no one out. It rained heavily including some hail and about twenty minutes later when things cleared up there was significant water on the field. It was questionable whether the game would be able to be finished. When the Tigers learned the game would be called a final if it could not be finished that night, the team went to work clearing water from the field and doing all they could to make it playable. One hour and nineteen minutes after the game was delayed, play resumed with Moritz at the plate. He proceeded to drive in the tying run with a single on a squeeze bunt. That was all the Tigers could manage as the Longhorns worked their way out of the inning, leaving the bases loaded.
In the top of the ninth, Stark got a lead-off walk and moved the runner over to third with a sacrifice and a ground out. Tews dug deep and got a strikeout to strand the runner at third. In the bottom of the ninth, Ryan Sturm worked a one-out walk. Marc Salazar followed with a single before Tews came through with a huge base hit, driving in Sturm to give the Tigers a 6-5 victory.
Matt Tews earned the win, pitching the final two and two-thirds innings, giving up just one hit. At the plate Springfield was led by Ryan Sturm who reached base in all five of his plate appearances, including three hits and two RBIs. Brady Schwab, Marc Salazar, and Tews each added two hits to the Tiger total, while Matt Baier and Andy Moritz added one hit apiece. The win for Springfield means a return trip to Stark on Tuesday night for the deciding game three of the series. The winner will move on to the division championship game on Wednesday night and the Region 2C Tournament starting on Saturday, while the loser goes home. We'll see you at the Stark Ballpark for the first pitch scheduled for 8pm!
Linescore
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | LOB | |
| Stark | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 12 |
| Springfield | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 11 |
Springfield Box
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | ||
| B. Wilhelmi, P/SS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Baier, 2B | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| Schwab, SS/RF | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Christensen, PR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| R. Sturm, 3B | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2B, HP |
| Salazar, 1B | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | HP |
| Tews, RF/P | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | SAC |
| Frank, RF | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| C. Sturm, LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Moritz, C | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | HP |
| Haseleu, PR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Milbrath, DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Sather, CF | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 34 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 5 | ||
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ||
| Wilhelmi | 6 1/3 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | |
| Tews (W, 4-2) | 2 2/3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
Pictures
