The Big Lake baseball team erased an early deficit, then held on to beat Becker, 5-4 in the first round of the Section 5AAA playoffs Tuesday at Big Lake.
Leadoff hitter Josh Groskruetz of the Bulldogs greeted pitcher Owen Wilczek with a line drive single on the first pitch to open the game, and it was the start of a four-run rally.
One out later, Josh Tobako was hit by a pitch. Wilczek then hit Becker starter Nolan Murphy with a pitch, and the bases were loaded with one out. Outfielder Sawyer Anderson followed with a single to right field, driving in Becker’s first two runs. With Ethan Guck at bat, Wilczek attempted a pickoff at first base. But the throw went wide and into right field, allowing the third run to score while Anderson reached third on the play. With two outs, Anderson scored on a wild pitch to put the Bulldogs ahead, 4-0.
In the home first, Nolan Murphy hit Jaxyn Tschritter with a pitch to open the inning. But Becker turned a double play on Nolan Reiter’s hard grounder to third, ending the threat.
Bruce Kraemer singled with one out in the second for the Bulldogs. Then Groskruetz tried a sacrifice bunt that turned into a single, and Becker was threatening again. But Wilczek struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
Big Lake catcher Keenan Hjermstad led off the second inning with a single, but was thrown out at second on a steal attempt. Austin Schleif followed with a walk, then Jackson LaRoche doubled to left field, driving in Schlief with a run. After Conner Stern walked, Trent Josewski tripled to right field, driving in LaRoche and Stern. When the throw from the outfield got past third base, Josewski raced home with the tying run.
In the third, Anderson reached second on an error, but was left there, and that was one of the few scoring chances the Bulldogs would have over the next four innings.
Before Big Lake could bat in the home third, the skies opened up and it was thunder and rain for the next 40 minutes.
When the game resumed, Murphy was still on the mound for the Bulldogs. Reiter led off with a walk and moved to second on a groundout. After he stole third, Hjermstad ripped a single to right field to drive in the go-ahead run. Big Lake got another runner as far as third, but Murphy got out of the inning without any more scoring.
Becker catcher Ethan Obermoller led off the fourth with a single, but was erased on a double play. Groskruetz followed with his third hit of the game, but was stranded there when Owen Kolbinger grounded out to end the inning.
Murphy retired the side in order for the first time in the fourth inning, and Wilczek did the same in the top of the fifth.
In the home fifth, Big Lake had a good scoring chance when Reiter and Isaiah Terlinden were hit by a pitch and Schlief walked to load the bases. With two outs, Carson Gellerman hit a long fly ball that was caught against the left field fence, and the threat was ended.
Becker had another chance to tie the game in the sixth. With one out, Grant Studer was hit by a pitch and Obermoller reached on an infield error. But Wilczek struck out the next batter and retired Groskruetz for the first time on a fly out to end the inning.
Sawyer Anderson came in to pitch the sixth inning for Becker. He allowed a single by Stern, but struck out two batters and didn’t allow a run.
Becker was looking for baserunners to try to tie the game in the seventh. But Wilczek retired the side in order to give the Hornets the win.
Wilczek allowed four runs on five hits. He walked four, hit three batters and struck out nine.
Murphy took the loss. He allowed five runs on four hits. He walked five, hit three batters and struck out three.
Anderson singled and drove in two runs for Becker. Groskruetz had three hits and scored a run.
Stern had two hits for Big Lake and drove in two runs. Hjermstad had two hits and drove in a run. LaRoche doubled and had an RBI.
The Hornets were scheduled to play Monticello Thursday, results next week.
Becker was scheduled to play on Saturday at Princeton.
