Oliver Service delivered a walk-off, RBI single to complete a 4-3 comeback victory over Green Bay that was nine innings in the making on Saturday night.
“I kind of just said to the team [before the ninth], ‘if I get up, the game is over,’” Service said.
The inning began with Riley Frost earning a leadoff walk and Ryan McKay subbing in for him as a pinch runner. Saborn Campbell laid down a sacrifice bunt to get McKay to second, creating Service’s opportunity.
“It kind of all fell into place,” Service said. “We all work together as a team so well.”
Service drove a 1-0 pitch to left, plating McKay. The entire Leprechaun dugout spilled onto the field, and Service quickly ended up drenched in water and sweat.
Royal Oak has now won three consecutive contests by one run. The Leprechauns have reached two games above .500 for the first time this year (17-15) after being 0-4 in prior opportunities to reach the mark.
“We’re new in the Northwoods and everyone thinks we’re not that good,” Service said. “But we’re here to make a statement this year. We’re going to let everybody know that we’ve come to play and we’re only going to get better from here.”
“These guys don’t quit, man,” said Royal Oak head coach Jonathan Vance. “When we have a chance to win a ballgame late, they get excited.”
The Leprechauns plated one run in each of the final three innings to complete the comeback. Green Bay had opened up a 3-0 lead in the opening frame after a bases-clearing double by Mulivai Levu.
Jack Boike did his part in the late innings. He scored the run that made it 3-2 in the seventh and hit in the tying run in the eighth. Him and Service were the only Leprechauns with multiple hits.
Royal Oak’s first run was aided by two errors and a sacrifice fly from Cam Hollobaugh in the fourth.
Grant Bradley, who started for Royal Oak on the mound, was able to overcome adversity afterwards, keeping the Rockers off the board from the second to the fourth.
“Bradley’s got a really nice future ahead of him,” Vance said. “He’s uber-talented.”
The bullpen also continued to shine for the Leprechauns. Stephen Ruhle tossed four scoreless innings and TJ McAlister Jr. sat down the top of the Green Bay lineup in order in top of the ninth.
“Today was a glimpse at how good [Ruhle] can be,” Vance said. “TJ on the back end was really good as well.”
Royal Oak’s pitching has truly stepped up after a dismal start to the year and with a now-slumping offense. The Leprechaun pitching staff holds a collective ERA of 2.21 over their last six games.
“As an offense, when your pitchers go on, and on, and on, you just get this sense that you have to back them up,” Service said. “It’s only right as a teammate.”
The Leprechauns are now on their fourth three-game win streak of the season. Royal Oak will try to get to four straight victories for the first time in another matchup with the Rockers on Sunday. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. for First Responders Night.
