The Becker Bandits baseball team split two games this past week, losing to Anoka last Friday and getting their first win of the year Wednesday against Albertville.

 

The Bandits lost by nine runs to the Bucs in seven innings on the road last Friday.

 

Becker tallied three runs on six hits while Anoka had 14 runs on nine hits.

 

The game started well for the Bandits when Austin Rasmussen hit a double with one out in the top of the first and advanced to third on a passed ball. Connor Rolf came up and knocked in the RBI on a error that scored Rasmussen.

 

In the top of the fourth, Tanner Niedenfeuhr led off with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and after Jon Crowley walked, the Bandits had runners on first and second. Hayden Fassler delivered an RBI double to score Niedenfeuhr for Becker’s second run of the game.

 

The Bandits’ final score came in the top of the fifth when Kreeden Blomquist reached on a fielders choice and scored on a two out double by Niedenfeuhr.

 

Niedenfeuhr took the loss, going one inning and giving up one walk, two hits and two runs. Matt Yoerg pitched two innings, garnering one strikeout, while giving up three walks, two hits and five runs. Cody Gruenhagen pitched the final three innings, notching two strikeouts and giving up three walks, five hits and six runs.

 

Fassler went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI while Niedenfeuhr was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Rasmussen contributed one hit (double) in three ABs and Gruenhagen was 1-for-4 

“Got the bats going early, but the pitching couldn't hold the lead in this one,” said Coach Cole Hanson. “Pitching continues to be a problem for us. With little pitching it is hard to grind out a ‘W’.”

 

The Bandits won their first game of the season Wednesday in a rain-shortened game of 4-1/2 innings.

 

In the bottom of the first inning, Rasmussen notched a one-out single, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Rolf followed with a walks and Yoerg  laid down a perfect bunt to load the bases. Matt Krenz stepped up and hit a sacrifice fly to right scoring Rasmussen and Becker’s first run. Conzemius followed with a walk to load the bases again. Blomquist rifled a single to score Rolf and give the Bandits a 2-0 lead. 

 

In the bottom of the third, Krenz led off with a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a Matthew Moe base hit to finish the Bandit scoring.

 

The Bandits finished the game with three runs on six hits and reached bases on two Villain errors.

 

Albertville tallied two runs on three hits.

 

Kendal Hanson went the distance for the Bandits in this abridged game and got the win, pitching five innings, giving up three hits while recording five strikeouts, a walk and just two runs.

 

Rasmussen had a good day at the plate, going  2-for-3. Rolf went 1-for-2 with a walk. Yoerg was 1-for-3. Blomquist and  Moe each were 1-for-2 with an RBI.

 

“ I'll take the win in that game even though we only played 4-1/2 innings due to rain that didn't want to stop,” said Hanson. “But a win is a win and we'll take it!”

 

The Bandits are in action Saturday in St. Joseph to take on the Joes at 4 p.m.

 

Sunday, they are home at 5 p.m. at the varsity field against the Sartell Muskies.

 

Also, the Bandits will be playing the Becker Buzzards on Saturday of Freedom Days at 1 p.m. at the varsity field.