May 8

Box Score

Northland College blew a six-run lead, but scored a run in the ninth to force extra innings and then Matt Tanneberg's two-run single in the top of the 13th gave the Jacks a thrilling 10-8 win over #2 seed Bethany Lutheran College in the opening game ofthe UMAC Tournament.

With the win,the LumberJacks improved to 12-13 overall and have now won eight of their past nine.  The Vikings dropped to 20-13.

Bethany Lutheran got back-to-back doubles off Will Opdyk in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead.  Darin Hendley cruised through the first five innings for the Vikings as he allowed just two hits while striking out seven.

The Jacks finally solved Hendley in the sixth as they scored seven runs on six hits.  With one out, Mike Stevens walked, Bryce Szymanski singled and Tanneberg was hit by a pitch.  Cody Carroll quickly gave Northland a 2-1 lead as his ringing double to right center plated Stevens and Szymanski.  Chris Steiner followed with a two-run single to right and advanced to third on a fielding error by Bethany right fielder Tyler Carlson.  Michael Cross made it 5-1 with a run-scoring single to right and Chuck Breitenfeldt did the same one hitter later.  Chad Moore walked to load the bases still with only one out.  Casey Frantz, after leading off the inning, singled softly to third and the late throw to first was misplayed by first baseman Jimmy Olson that allowed Cross and Breitenfeldt to score.  Overall, the Jacks sent 11 batters to the plate and at one point, nine consecutive hitters reached base.

The Vikings responded in the bottom half of the inning with five runs on five hits to pull within 7-6.

Bethany Lutheran grabbed a 8-7 lead in the seventh as they scored two runs on two hits off of Tyler Teadt.  Despite throwing six innings yesterday versus Presentation College, he spelled a tired and shorthanded pitching staff. 

In the ninth still trailing 8-7, Northland's first two batters were retired.  Tanneberg was hit by a pitch to bring up Carroll.  All year long he has been the Jacks big run producer and he came through one more time as his slicing ball down the rightfield line was not held onto by a diving Justin Schwecke.  Hawker laid out but the ball was jarred out once he hit the ground.

The teams had opportunities to score the next few innings, but neither could push anything across the plate.  That is until the 13th.

Frantz started the game-winning rally with a bunt single to third.  Instead of laying down a sacrifice bunt , Stevens perfectly executed a hit and run that sent Frantz all the way to third.  With the infield pulled in, Stevens stole second and then both runners scoed on Tanneberg's sharp single just past the diving Olson at first.  Bethany Lutheran was sent down in order in the bottom of the 13th to end the 3:25 marathon.

Carroll and Breitenfeldt each had three hits apiece.  Tanneberg, Cross and Frantz added two each.  Teadt got the win in relief by tossing six-hit ball over seven innings.  He allowed two runs, both earned, with three walks and three strikeouts.

The Jacks will wait to face the winner of the College of St.Scholastica/Martin Luther College game at 1:00 PM.  Game time is set for 7:00 PM.