The Merrill American Legion baseball team closed out a brutal stretch of schedule with a split in last Tuesday’s double-header at Marshfield.
Post 46 played seven games in a matter of just five days, but they still took the opening contest by a 15-5 tally. But the locals seemed to run out of gas, losing Game 2 by a 10-2 score.
“(Alex) Cordova and (Luke) Golisch had impressive games at the plate,” Manager Rob Klug said. “Michael Koppelman had a nice game at the plate and Zach Jahnke came around late to add a pair of extra base hits.
“Kyle Rajek did a nice job pitching, getting the start. He may have run out a little gas in the fifth and that’s when we made the move to bring in Dylan (Burkam) to finish it. As a team we played a complete game, offensively and more importantly defensively.
“The tide turned a little in the second game. We had some miscues on defense that led to runs early and their pitcher struck out 11, so runs were at a premium.”
Cordova (2B, 3B, 2 RBI) and Golisch (2B, 3 RBI) both hit 4-6 in the opener, Koppelman (2-2B, 3 RBI) batted 3-4, and Jordan Burton (2-3, 2W) Burkam (2-4 2-2B), Jahnke (2-5, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI) added multi-hit games.
Merrill held a 3-1 lead after the 1st inning, with a lead-off Cordova double, Golisch RBI single and Koppelman run-scoring hit. Post 46 pushed it to 9-3 in the 3rd with six consecutive hits after a lead-off walk. Burkam’s double and Koppelman’s 2-run single stood out.
Jahnke tripled and scored on Cordova’s hit in the 5th, and Golisch doubled Cordova in for a 11-4 lead.
Post 46 capped it with a 4-run 7th, aided by Jahnke’s 2-run double and Cordova’s RBI triple.
Rajek (9 H, 5 W, 2 K, 5 ER in 4 I) picked up the win and Burkam (3 H, 0 W, 3 K, 0 R in 3 I) relieved.
Nightshade
The nightcap provided a role reversal, with Marshfield grabbing an 8-0 margin powered by three in the 2nd and four in the 5th.
Post 46 got two back in the 6th, after Cordova walked and scored on a Golisch triple, and Michael Detert hit Golisch home. Marshfield tacked on a pair in the top of the 7th.
Five unearned runs didn’t help the trio of pitchers. Burkam (2 H, 1 W, 5 K, 4 R, 1 ER) was stuck with the loss, and Detert (4 H, 4 W, 1 K, 6 R, 4 ER in 2-1/3 I) and Jack Osness (0 H, 0 W, 0 K, 0 R in 2/3 I) came on.
John Koehler had Merrill’s third hit. Eleven batters struck out.
Merrill was 5-4 on the season heading into Wednesday’s home double-header with Wis. Rapids.