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Chisago Lakes 10, Osceola 7

With the baseball game against the Osceola Braves tied 7-7, Reed Marquardt hit a bases clearing double with two outs in the top of the tenth to give the Bulldogs a 10-7 lead, then shut down the Braves 1-2-3 in the bottom of the tenth to give the Bulldogs a 10-7 win Wednesday, May 27 at Oakey Park in Osceola.

With two outs and the bases empty in the top of the third inning, Brendan Hemr launched a ball to deep right center and sped all the way to third for a standup triple. Marquardt walked. Slugger Alex Wilkey drilled the first pitch he saw high and deep over the right field fence for a three-run homer, giving the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead.

With the Bulldogs still leading 3-1 in the top of the fourth inning and two outs, Brayden Anderson hit a hard ground ball to third that took a funny bounce, hit the edge of the third baseman’s glove, and bounced into foul territory as Anderson raced to first for a single. Ty Escobedo stepped up to the plate and dropped a pop fly between three fielders in left field. Anderson slid in safely just ahead of the throw to third as Escobedo pulled up at second with a double. Hemr hit a hard ground single to left, scoring Anderson. When the left fielder juggled the ball as he was picking it up, Escobedo also scored, making the score 5-1. Stuart Hellie lined a homer to left in the bottom of the inning to cut the Wildcat lead to 5-2, and an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth made it 5-3.

Escobedo walked to open the top of the sixth and stole second. Hemr walked. Escobedo stole third and, one pitch later, Hemr stole second. Marquardt lined a single to right to score both runners, and the Bulldogs led 7-3. Two outfield errors led to three Braves runs in the bottom of the sixth. Aaron Schmidt hit a fly ball to deep right that went off the top of right fielder Tanner Marquardt’s glove for a three-base error. Carson Cole singled to right to score Schmidt. One out later, Severson hit a high fly ball to deep center field. Center fielder Hemr started in on the ball and then had to backtrack. He reached up to catch it, but the ball ticked off the top of his glove for an error, and the runners ended up on second and third. Kale Hopke hit a sacrifice fly to right to score one run, and Severson scored on a wild pitch to cut the Bulldog lead to 7-6.

Reed Marquardt came in to relieve starter Jacob Mickelson in the top of the seventh, walked Hellie with one out, and struck out Bryce Byl. Schmidt dropped a bunt a short way down the first base line. Catcher Caden Coppersmith pounced on the ball and fired the throw into right field, allowing Schmidt to score on the error and tying the game at 7-7. Nick Carlson lined a single to center to open the bottom of the ninth and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Hellie struck out swinging. Byl grounded  out to short for the second out, with Hellie moving to third. Schmidt tried to bunt his way on to push across the winning run, but Reed Marquardt quickly picked up the ball and threw Schmidt out at first by a step for the third out, sending the game into extra innings.

In the top of the tenth, pinch hitter Jeremy Knutson topped a pitch that bounced behind the plate and spun down the first base line. Pitcher Tred Hiljus picked up the ball and fired it on the ground between the legs of the first baseman, and Knutson was safe on the error. Carson Luxem re-entered the game to run for Knutson. Coppersmith struck out, and Anderson walked. Escobedo grounded out to first, and both runners moved up. Hemr was intentionally walked to load the bases. On a 2-1 pitch, Reed Marquardt drilled the ball into the right field corner to clear the bases, giving the Bulldogs a 10-7 lead. Wilkey lined to center to end the rally. In the bottom of the tenth, Cole grounded out and Austin Almlie struck out. Severson hit a liner that appeared headed for left field. But shortstop Escobedo made a leaping grab of the liner to end the game.

Starter Mickelson went six innings for the Bulldogs. He allowed six runs – only one earned – on seven hits, walked none and struck out four. Reed Marquardt picked up the win in relief. IN four innings, he allowed one unearned run on two hits, walked one, and struck out seven.

Bulldog Banter

Tomorrow night, the Bulldogs (5-3) will head up to Quamba to take on the Quamba Cubs at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, June 7 at Pat Collins Field at Chisago Lakes High School, an animal adoption event and fundraiser hosted by Ruff Start Rescue will start at 1 p.m., and the event will continue as the Bulldogs take on the Ogilvie Orioles at 2 p.m. On Monday, June 8, the Bulldogs stay at home to play the Braham Snappers at 7:30 p.m., and will play their third home game in a row when they host the Nowthen Knights at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10.

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