Hamilton dominates in second start of season
Wyatt Kopelman – wmk23@miami.edu
Duluth, Minn– Jake Hamilton was determined to follow through from one start to the next.
In his second starting nod of the season, the right-handed starter totaled a season-high 10 strikeouts, throwing a five-inning shutout in a 10-6 Huskies win over the Bismarck Larks at Bismarck Municipal Ballpark Monday night.
Scoring four runs in the early innings, Duluth never trailed.
In the opening frame, freshman right fielder Joe Vos managed an RBI single to center field. Along with the base hit, an error scored a pair of runs.
The Huskies (5-3) expanded their lead in the second with a two-run double from freshman left fielder JD Rogers.
Hamilton, meanwhile, retired the first seven Bismarck batters on strikeouts.
The Larks managed only two base runners in the early innings, but scored their first run on a sacrifice fly.
With Bismarck starting pitcher Jake Lynch out of the game after the fifth, Duluth (5-3) tacked on six additional runs off reliever Luke Hempel.
Rogers tripled to right-center field and scored on a one-out single by freshman shortstop Kristian Campbell. A wild pitch scored freshman right fielder Joe Vos for a 7-0 advantage.
In the sixth, Campbell hit a sacrifice fly to cap off a three-run frame.
But the Larks (3-3) had an answer.
Starting the bottom half, a fielder’s choice play and a wild pitch moved Bismarck to within seven.
While six of the next seven Huskies batters were retired, the Larks posted three more runs in the seventh and eighth. An RBI hit and a wild pitch reduced the Duluth lead to six.
Huskies pitching combined for 18 total strikeouts, nonetheless.
Despite relinquishing back-to-back base hits in the ninth, right-handed reliever Jake Christianson struck out the final three batters to seal the win.
Bismarck used two relievers for a combined five innings and Duluth relied on four, one in each of the final four frames.
Duluth (5-3) has won four consecutive contests for back-to-back series sweeps.
Hamilton (1-0) earned the win, while Lynch (0-1) was tagged with the loss.
Returning home with their first road series victory, the Huskies are set to host the Waterloo Bucks Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
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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.
