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St. James Shuts Out Springfield

7/29/12

With Springfield leading the best-of-three playoff series, they traveled to St. James with a chance to punch their ticket to the Region 2C Tournament. However, the A's weren't going to let that happen at their ballpark. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead after three innings and kept it right there to force the must win game three on Tuesday.

Jason Nachreiner took the ball for Springfield. He gave up four hits in the bottom of the first, including an RBI double by Chris Menssen to give St. James a 1-0 lead.

After a one, two, three second inning, Nachreiner started the home half of the third by hitting the lead-off batter. It was the only free base runner Nachreiner would allow on the evening. The A's followed with hits from three of the next four batters, including an RBI single from Austin Pinke and Chris Menssen, his second RBI of the game. That made the score 3-0.

In game one of the series, each time St. James scored, Springfield countered with a run or more of their own in their next at-bat. That trend did not carry over to game two. St. James starter Joe Krause was perfect through the first four innings. Springfield hit some balls hard, but they just didn't find the green.

Nachreiner found himself in another jam in the bottom of the fourth, but worked his way out without any further damage with a strikeout. After the tough "Brad Radke-like" start, many would have looked to the bullpen, but manager Steve Helget stuck with Nachreiner. The right-hander couldn't have been better, facing the minimum as he worked his way through the remaining four innings.

Ryan Sturm got Springfield's first hit to start the fifth. Marc Salazar took his place on a fielder's choice, but the Tigers weren't able to move him around.

Joe Hager took over the mound duties in the top of the sixth. Springfield greeted him with a pair of bunts. A bunt single by Ryan Beyer and a sacrifice by Jacob Menage, on which he nearly reached safely. Matt Vogel drew a walk, but the rally failed to ignite as the Tigers stranded runners at first and second.

Springfield's last best opportunity came in the eighth. Beyer drew a free pass to start the inning. Zach Bisel drew a walk to put two on with just one out. A ground out moved both runners into scoring position, but again, it wasn't to be.

Sam Carlson came on to close the door in the top of the ninth. He surrendered a two-out walk, but that was all, as he preserved the win, 3-0.

For the second straight Sunday, Springfield was held to just two hits. Ryan Sturm and Ryan Beyer had one each. St. James was led by Ryan Menssen, Austin Pinke, and Chris Menssen with two hits each. Menssen also added two RBIs. On the mound, Joe Krause picked up the win, working five scoreless innings, giving up just one hit while striking out three. Jason Nachreiner took the tough loss, going all eight innings, giving up three runs on ten hits, while striking out twelve with no walks. Sam Carlson picked up a save working the ninth and striking out two.

The win by St. James sets up the decisive game three back in Springfield on Tuesday night. In their four meetings so far this season the teams have split. It all comes down to the 8pm contest at Riverside Park. The loser calls it a season and the winner moves on into the six-team Region 2C Tournament to battle for four spots in the 2012 State Tournament. A's or Tigers? Come find out on Tuesday night!

NOTES: Springfield is 0-3 in games in which the total runs scored is less than five. Two of those loses have been to St. James...The Tigers last game three series win came in 2007 when they defeated Stark in game three, 11-6, at Stark...Jason Nachreiner finished strong on Sunday night in St. James, striking out the final five batters he faced...Sunday's game was the first game all season in which both teams played error-free defense.


Linescore

123456789RHELOB
Springfield0000000000207
St. James10200000x31006

Springfield Box

ABRHRBIBBSO 
Bisel, C300010 
Vogel, RF300010 
A. Fink, SS400001 
R. Sturm, 3B401003 
Tews, LF300001HP
M. Salazar, 1B300010 
Loomis, 2B400001 
Beyer, CF201010 
Menage, DH200000SAC
Nachreiner, P------ 
 2802046 
        
 IPHRERBBSO 
Nachreiner (L, 1-2)81033012

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