By Max Stapleton
Huskies drop a close game despite two triples from Tyler Leroy.
Duluth, Minn. – The Mud Puppies and the Huskies battled for 12 long innings Thursday afternoon in Duluth.
Conor Hourigan got the start for Duluth in his first appearance of the season. He was matched up against Chad Fox for Minnesota.
Both pitchers pitched shutout ball until the top of the fourth inning, when Carter Tibbits notched a single to center field to bring in the first run of the game. In the next at bat, Ben Vujovich hit a double that would increase Minnesota’s lead to 2-0.
The Huskies were able to bounce right back in the bottom half of the frame. After back to back singles from Joe Vos and Jake Schelonka, Michael Hallquist cleared the bases with a game tying double.
In the top of the fifth, Cam Hunter got a hold of one and drilled a home run to put the Mud Puppies back up one. Yet again the Huskies found a way to answer in the bottom half of the frame as Kristian Campbell hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game.
Both starters finished their nights with five innings pitched. Hourigan gave up three earned runs on six hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Fox also gave up three earned runs on six hits, but walked two and struck out three.
Jaxon Edwards came into the game in the sixth, but was unable to slow down Minnesota. He walked in two runs before Jake Christianson replaced him. The Huskies yet again answered straight back in the bottom half of the inning when Tyler Leroy smacked a two run triple to tie the game at five.
The score would remain tied until the tenth inning. Steen Lane came into the game for relief but Minnesota scored a run on a passed ball. The Huskies showed no quit when Tyler Leroy hit his second triple of the game to tie it up.
No runs were scored in the 11th, and in the top of the 12th Carter Hendrickson was able to notch one across on a wild pitch. That would be the last run of the game as Minnesota won this one 7-6.
Matthew Wattermann earned himself his first win of the season, while Steen Lane received his first loss. The Huskies continue their homestand tomorrow night as the Willmar Stingers come into town. You can watch it on duluthhuskies.com or listen to it on mixlr.com under the channel name duluthhuskiesradio2022.
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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’ 28th 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 280 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 (NYM), 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 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com. 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.