Tigers Overcome Five Run Deficit, Force Game Three

8/1/10

The Tigers began Sunday night's second game of their playoff series against the Brewers by honoring Springfield's newest member of the MN Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame. Bob Sturm is a 2010 inductee and threw out the game's first pitch. Springfield fell behind in the fifth and trailed 7-2 going into the bottom of the eighth. Then they rallied for six runs to pull out an 8-7 victory, evening the best of three series at one game a piece.

Jake Miesen was the game two starter for the Tigers. Things started out a little rough as the first four batters reached base. A New Ulm runner was thrown out at the plate on an attempted double-steal and Miesen got out of the inning with the Brewers plating just one run.

Alex Fink greeted New Ulm starter, Zach More, with a base hit in the bottom of the first. He worked his way around the bases on a ground out and single by Matt Baier before scoring when Brady Schwab reached on a fielder's choice.

Miesen faced just three batters in the top of the second. Bob Fink started the bottom of the inning with a solid single. A sacrifice bunt by Matt Tews moved him up to second and Chris Sturm put Springfield on top, 2-1, with a base hit.

New Ulm got back-to-back one-out hits in the top of the fourth to tie the game at two. The Tigers went to the bullpen for Jesse Berg to start the fifth. A Tiger error, followed by a walk put Berg into a jam. A one-out RBI single spelled the end of the night for Berg as Alex Fink came on to pitch. A couple pitches to the backstop moved the other two runners around to score and put New Ulm on top 5-2.

Zach More kept the Springfield offense at bay, not allowing a hit in the third through the seventh innings. Alex Fink kept the Tigers in the ballgame, keeping the Brewers off the scoreboard until they took advantage of a Tiger error in the top of the eighth to push across two unearned runs.

Trailing 7-2, things didn't look so good for the Tigers in the bottom of the eighth. After one was out, Baier crushed a triple. Schwab followed with an run scoring single. Bob Fink got a base hit and Tews followed with a hit to score pinch-runner, Danny Christensen.

After the four straight hits, the Brewers went to the bullpen to bring on Jordan Trullinger. Marc Salazar drew a walk to load the bases. Chris Sturm drove in a run with a ground out. Christian Loomis was walked on four pitches to reload the bases. Alex Fink was hit by a pitch to push across Springfield's sixth run. Ryan Sturm came to the plate with the bases loaded, two out, and with the Tigers down by one. He hit a ground ball to third, but a Brewer error allowed two to score and give Springfield an 8-7 lead.

Jason Nachreiner came on to work to top of the ninth. A runner reached on a catcher's inference, but Nachreiner faced just three batters in the inning when he coaxed a ground ball to induce a 5-4-3 double-play to end the game.

Matt Baier and Bob Fink led the Springfield offense with two hits each. Alex Fink, Brady Schwab, Matt Tews, and Chris Sturm all contributed one hit in the attack. Alex Fink earned the win on the mound, working three and two-thirds innings, scattering three hits, and allowing two unearned runs. Jason Nachreiner picked up a save, working a scoreless ninth. Jordan Trullinger was tagged with the loss, surrendering two unearned runs, while walking three.

With the Tigers' win, the series moves back to New Ulm on Tuesday night for the third and deciding game. The winner of the game will move on to a National Division draft game on Wednesday night and the loser goes home. Go Tigers!


Linescore

123456789RHELOB
New Ulm10013002071038
Springfield11000006x8838

Springfield Box

ABRHRBIBBSO 
A. Fink, SS/P411101HP
R. Sturm, CF500001 
Baier, 2B/SS/3B4120113B
Schwab, C501202 
   Sather, PR010000 
B. Fink, DH412000 
   Christensen, PR010000 
Miesen, P------ 
   Berg, P------ 
   Milbrath, RF------ 
Tews, RF/2B301100SAC
   Bisel, PR010000 
Salazar, 1B310010 
C. Sturm, LF201220 
Loomis, 3B300010 
   Krebs, PR010000 
   Nachreiner, P------ 
 3388655 
        
 IPHRERBBSO 
Miesen4 62223 
Berg 1/313110 
A. Fink (W, 2-0)3 2/332000 
Nachreiner (SV, 2)1 00000

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