Kenosha Wis - The Parkside Rangers snapped a two-game losing streak on Thursday, sweeping a double header over Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Parkside trailed for the majority of game one, but stormed back with a five-run eighth inning to win 9-5. It took game two 12-innings to decide a winner, but it was Parkside who came out on top with a walk-off victory, 5-4.
GAME ONE
Scoring game in bunches in the opening game of the day. Parkside scored three in the first, one in the second and then put up a five spot in the eighth. John St. Clair led the offense with three hits. Peter Fusek reached base twice, driving in two. Kaleb Schulist picked up his second win of the season on the hill, working six and a third innings of scoreless relief. He allowed just four hits while striking out six.
Eau Claire struck first, plating two runs in the top of the first on two hits. They were also aided by one Ranger error.
Parkside answered back in the bottom half, plating three. With one out, a walk and a hit by pitch put two on for the Rangers. Emanuel Andujar Ferreira then ripped a double that one hopped the wall in left scoring two. He then came in to score on the play when the relay throw ended up in the Blugold dugout.
The Blugolds took the lead once again in the top of the second, plating three runs on four hits. Schulist was able to come into the game for the Rangers and pick up a strikeout to end the inning with two on to keep the deficit at 5-3.
The Rangers got one back in the bottom of the second. Joe Hoeks came around to score from second when Fusek doubled to left center. Both team's defenses settled in for the next few innings, with zeros being put on the scoreboard until the Parkside half of the eighth.
With one out and two on, Hoeks singled through the right side, scoring Jared Heinzen, tying the game at five. Parkside wasn't done there, scoring two on a single by Fusek. Angel Rades then made it 8-5 Parkside when he was able to single through the left side, scoring Fusek. Parkside scored one final time in the inning on an Andrew Harris sac-fly, making it 9-5 Rangers.
Leo Berger came on to pitch the ninth for the Rangers and shut the door on the Blugolds, inducing a double play ball to secure the win.
GAME TWO
The second game between Eau Claire and Parkside went a lot different. Parkside jumped out to a 4-0 lead through the first six innings of baseball. Donovan Dykas was excellent in his fourth start of the season, but the seventh inning brought him trouble. Eau Claire fought for four runs in the inning to take their first lead. After Parkside drew even in the bottom half, it took until the 12th inning for another run to cross. Parkside walked-off the marathon of a game.
In the first inning, Parkside was able to draw first blood without even recording a hit. Peter Fusek, who was hit by the pitch, came around and scored on a John St. Clair RBI groundout.
Parkside scored two more runs in the fourth inning. Emanuel Andujar Ferreira got the fun started and remained as one of the hottest hitters on the team. He smoked an RBI triple down the right field line, scoring Andrew Harris. Koto Sato followed up with an RBI double of his own, scoring Andujar. Parkside possessed a 3-0 lead after four innings.
Donovan Dykas posted his best start yet. Dykas began his start with six scoreless frames. He ran into trouble in the seventh after a pair of walks and an error. In all, he lasted six innings, allowing two earned runs, and he collected six strikeouts. Eau Claire plated four runs in the inning to take a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning.
In the blink of an eye, Joe Hoeks clubbed a game-tying home run on the first pitch of the following frame. It was his first Parkside home run and it tied the game at four.
Noah Gerritson entered in the eighth inning and silenced any commotion. Gerritson had everything working for him, fooling one hitter after another. He pitched three innings of relief allowing just one hit. He struck out six batters in the process. He passed the baton to Peter Fusek who then struck out four hitters in just 1.2 innings. Both of them kept Parkside even through extra innings.
After Jared Heinzen reached on a walk in the bottom of the 12th, he would come around and score on a walk-off base hit from Owen Brock.
NEXT
The Parkside Rangers will return home on Tuesday to continue their eight-game home stand. They will take on Viterbo University, with first pitch slated for 2:00 pm. For coverage, visit
ParksideRangers.com/coverage.
