Andover 4/15/2023
Crimson fall to the Huskies in Opener at Crimson Field
Box Score 4/15/2023
Andover 5, Maple Grove 4
Sam Kliber got the start on the mound for the Crimson and gave up a first inning home run but settled in for four innings of 2-hit ball before giving way to three other MG pitchers. The home team took a 3-2 lead in the third. Connor Willis led off with a hit-by-pitch, Vann Olson followed with a sacrifice bunt, Tanner Albeck hit a scorching shot that the Husky shortstop couldn't field cleanly, and after two walks to Kliber and Hunter Gerber, Andover brought in a new pitcher who was greated by a Nathan Schmidt two-RBI single.
Brody Berglin pitched the fifth for the Crimson giving up one game-tying run. Evan O'Dwyer came in to start the sixth inning and walked two batters while getting two outs. Gerber came on in relief with two outs in the sixth, but couldn't keep a lone go-ahead run from scoring before recording the third out. Andover scored an additional run in the top of the seventh to make it 5-3.
With the score sitting at 5-3 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Crimson mustered a rally. Olson led off with a single at the end of an eight-pitch at bat. After a fielder's choice from Albeck, Kliber walked and Gerber was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Schmidt struck out to follow, but Kellen Riskedahl walked to close the gap to one run. Unfortunately, that ended the rally as the last Crimson batter struck out on a foul tip; the Huskies taking a 5-4 victory back to Andover.