Huskies Outrun Cats
By Lance Jones
Danny Zimmerman’s (Michigan) RBI double in the top of the ninth capped a comeback rally as the Duluth Huskies topped the Thunder Bay Border Cats 8-7 in the season opener. The Huskies had a five run, five hit ninth inning in the win. A Sacrifice fly by Matt Hogan (Vanderbilt) hit into left field plated Ramon Enriquez (Oklahoma Baptist) to tie the game at seven, which set the table for Zimmerman’s heroics. It marked a string of seven unanswered runs that the Huskies put together after the Border Cats were up 7-1.
The Border Cats threw down a six spot in the bottom of the fifth to take a 7-1 lead and the game seemed to be in control. Five walks issued by the Huskies pitching staff in that fifth inning contributed largely to the Border Cats major inning. The Cats would send 12 hitters to the plate in the inning with Nate Soriano (Houston Baptist), Bryce Jorgenson (Minnesota-Crookston) and Jake Engel (Dixie State) collecting RBI-singles.
The Huskies comeback trail was started in the sixth by Preston Hartsell (USC) who mashed a two-run home run over the bullpen and out of the stadium. Duluth Catcher Enriquez walked to start the inning. The home run cut the deficit to 7-3.
Duluth took the lead in the top of the third on Carter Putz’s (Notre Dame) single that counted Lance Ford (Texas). The Border Cats would knot it up in the bottom of the fourth as Joe Moran’s (Anderson University-IN) single plated Jakob Newton (Florida Institute of Technology).
Cats shortstop Soriano set the table for the offense going 3-for-5 at the top of the order with an RBI and stolen base. Newton had a 2-for-3 night with two walks, two runs and two stolen bases. Bryce Jorgenson had two hits and an RBI in the losing cause.
Carter Putz (Notre Dame) had three RBI’s and two hits in the win. Hartsell ended the game 2-for-4 with a double, and three RBI’s to go along with his homer.
Logan VanWey (Missouri Southern State) struck out four over the eighth and ninth innings, as his offense made him a winner. Staley Hansgen (Colorado Northwestern CC) took the loss for the Cats. Dane Morrow (Pepperdine) had a good start for the Huskies as he struck out six over four inning of work.
The Border Cats and Huskies wrap up the two game set Wednesday Night at 7:05pm(Eastern)/6:05pm (Central). Tomorrow is Weenie Wednesday with hot dogs available for only $1.