Huskies claim fourth walk-off win in two weeks
Wyatt Kopelman – wmk23@miami.edu
Duluth, Minn. – Cam Frederick was still searching for a hit.
Then, with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, Frederick collected his first walk-off hit of the season to lift the Duluth Huskies over the Willmar Stingers, 7-6, on a brisk, cloudy afternoon at Wade Stadium on Sunday.
Duluth rallied for four runs in the ninth, following an RBI double from center fielder Jonathan Vastine. The Vanderbilt product logged back-to-back three-hit outings, prior to a bases-loaded walk from designated hitter Jake Schelonka and a sacrifice fly to tie the contest at six runs apiece.
The come-from-behind effort, however, remained anything but easy.
Trailing by five runs in the first, the Huskies (13-15) responded with two prior to the second on a throwing error by Willmar starting pitcher Andrew Baumgart.
Managing only one run leading into the ninth, Duluth relied on Willmar’s second error to score Schelonka.
The Huskies struck out just once, nonetheless.
Huskies right-handed reliever Isaiah Piscitello appeared as the final Duluth pitcher in the eighth. The Bryant & Stratton College hurler completed his third scoreless outing, working the eighth strikeout for Duluth pitching.
Second baseman Jordan Sagedahl homered for the second time in the sixth, hitting a solo home run for his second of the season.
But the Stingers (23-5) never scored again.
Willmar lost for just the 13th time in 55 games, aside from scoring 91 combined runs over its last six games.
Duluth and Willmar combined for over 20 hits for the second straight game, yet the Huskies garnered their third home win in four tries.
Stingers reliever Brian Baker relinquished all four of the Duluth runs scored in its comeback victory, after Baumgart’s three runs allowed stood as unearned.
The Huskies and Stingers are tied in the season series, winning three games each. Both ball clubs will reconvene for the final two-game set Friday at Bill Taunton Stadium in Willmar.
Piscitello (1-0) garnered the win, while Baker (1-1) was tacked with the loss, blowing a potential third save.
Up next, the Huskies will host the Eau Claire Express tomorrow to begin another two-game series as their six-game home stand continues. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
###
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.
