Bemidji 5/19/2023
Lumberjacks bust it open in the 11th to best the crimson 14-7
Box Score 5/19/2023
Bemidji 14, Maple Grove 7
The Lumberjacks made the long trip down from Bemidji but didn't seem worse for the wear. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead early, scoring a run in the first and two more in the second. Maple Grove responded in their half of the second with two of their own, using two 'Jack errors, a single from Dylan Vokal, an RBI ground out from Brody Berglin, and an RBI single from Connor Wihlm to score. After another Bemidji run came across the plate in the fourth, the Crimson used their own fourth and fifth to put up a total of five more runs of their own, taking a 7-4 lead. Wihlm helped the cause with another RBI single, and Gavin Kustermann drove in two runs of his own on a single to left.
But Bemidji scratched their way back with a lone run in the sixth and the tying pair in the seventh - sending the game to extra innings. Noah Black started on the mound for Maple Grove, throwing four innings, giving up five hits and four runs (three earned), while walking one and striking out two. Vann Olson replaced Black and pitched the fifth inning plus part of the sixth, giving up one run on one hit and one walk in his inning of work. Sam Hagen came on in the sixth, preventing any more runs, but gave up two runs of his own in the seventh before giving way to Hunter Gerber. Hunter kept the game tied all the way to the eleventh, but ran out of gas, eventually allowing five Lumberjack runs in the inning. Zeth Petrie came on to finish the eleventh, giving up two more runs, but striking out the final two Bemidji hitters to end the inning. The Crimson had no answer in the bottom of the seventh and the 'Jacks left Crimson field with a victory.
Highlights for Maple Grove included two-hit days for Sam Kliber (2/5), Dylan Vokal (2/4, BB, SB, R), Berglin (2/4, R, RBI), and Wihlm (2/4, 2RBI, BB)