EAU CLAIRE – What would have been a crushing, late-inning loss turned into a memorable win for the Marshfield Post 54 Senior American Legion baseball team.
After surrendering six runs in the top of the seventh inning and falling behind by two, Marshfield rallied for three runs in the bottom of the frame to top Altoona 8-7 in its final game at the three-day Eau Claire Legion Tournament on Sunday afternoon at Carson Park.
Altoona took a 1-0 lead into the fifth when Marshfield erupted for five runs to take the lead.
Tragen Bogdonovich singled and Jacob Earll reached on an error to lead off the inning for the Blue Devils. Ben Gust followed with an RBI single and Jaeger Johnson had a sacrifice fly to put Marshfield on top 2-1.
Gust later scored on an error, Monte Diestler had a sacrifice fly to plate another run, and after a single by Devyn Palmer, Luke Erickson singled home Chandler Schmidt, who had walked, to give the Blue Devils a 5-1 lead.
The score remained that way until the top of the seventh when Altoona turned up its offense.
Reliever Ty Pankratz entered after Marshfield starter Logan Schreiner loaded the bases following a single, an error and a walk.
Jake Nelson greeted him with a two-run double and Jake Varsho had a single to plate two more and tie the game at 5-5.
Following a walk and two outs, Anthony Giani delivered a two-run single to put Altoona up 7-5.
Marshfield wasn’t about to quit, however, and rallied in the bottom of the inning.
Eli Drexler reached on an error, Schmidt singled, and Drexler scored on an error.
Palmer followed with a triple to plate Schmidt and tie the game. After a groundout, Isaiah Baierl had a single to right to score Palmer with the game-winning run.
Palmer, Erickson and Bogdonovich each had two hits for Marshfield, which tallied 10 in all.
Marshfield, which finished the tournament with a 3-1 record and improves to 11-12 overall this summer, returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Wisconsin Valley Conference leader Plover at 7 p.m. at Jack Hackman Field.
Marshfield 8, Altoona 7
Altoona 000 100 6 – 7 10 5
Marshfield 000 050 3 – 8 10 1
WP: Ty Pankratz. LP: Dyllan Bauer.
SO: Grant Sauerman (5 2/3 inn.) 1, Bauer (1 inn.) 0; Logan Schreiner (6 inn.) 5, Pankratz (1 inn.) 1. BB: Sauerman 1, Bauer 0; Schreiner 3, Pankratz 1.
Top hitters: A, Jake Nelson 2B, 2 RBIs; Jake Varsho 2×4, 2 RBIs; Anthony Giani 2×4, 3 RBIs; Riley Parks 2×3. M, Chandler Schmidt 2 runs; Devyn Palmer 2×4, 3B, RBI; Luke Erickson 2×3, 2B, RBI; Tragen Bogdonovich 2×3; Ben Gust 2B, RBI.
Records: Marshfield 11-12; Altoona not reported.
Author: News Desk
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