Four run top of the eighth, Benge, stifle Duluth
Brendan Reilly, bgr28@miami.edu
Duluth, Minn- For the second straight series in a row, the Duluth Huskies were looking for their first series sweep of the 2021 season. After handling the Minnesota Mud Puppies in game one, it was a much different story on Tuesday night at Wade Stadium, as Mud Puppies’ pitching kept Huskies bats quiet, winning 8-0.
The Mud Puppies (3-7) jumped out to an early lead once again here tonight, putting up two runs in the second inning. After a pair of singles to lead the inning off against Huskies right-hander, Jonny Guzman, Morgan Holmes ripped a double that brought in Will Sturek, and that was all the Mud Puppies would need. Ethan Roe then followed the double up with a sac fly, and the Huskies found themselves down two.
The Huskies had their best scoring chance come in the third and fourth inning. In the bottom of the third, Brett Paulsen reached by an error, and a pair of hits from Kyle Westfall and Beau Wimpee loaded the bases. In the next at-bat, Charlie Rhee flew out to right, and right fielder Will Sturek came up firing and cut down Brett Paulsen at the plate. Mike Boeve struck out, and the Huskies scoring threat came to an end.
Against Minnesota’s pitcher, Duke Benge, in the bottom of the fourth, the Huskies got runners on the corners with one out but failed to bring anyone in. Benge would end up going five and two-thirds innings of shutout baseball, giving up four hits, walking two, and striking out three.
Jonny Guzman went four innings, giving up four hits, three runs of which two were earned, walking five and striking out five. He gave way to Connor Semone, who lasted an inning plus giving up one run. Brody Maynard came in for two and two-thirds, striking out three.
The Mud Puppies put this game out of reach in the top of the eighth inning, putting up four runs, and doubling up the Huskies, capped off by a bases-clearing double from Sturek. He ended the day two-for-four, with three RBI’s.
The Huskies were only able to produce five hits against the Mud Puppies, but they now get a day to rest, their first day off in 16 games. They start an eight-game road trip back in Waterloo, Iowa against the Waterloo Bucks. First pitch from Riverfront Stadium is set for 12:05
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The Duluth Huskies are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 27th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, over 250 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB Gold Glove finalist and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.duluthhuskies.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Huskies as your favorite team.
