Kenosha, Wis. – The Parkside Rangers dropped both of their games against No. 16 Minnesota State Mankato but battled hard against the nationally ranked squad on Monday. Parkside nearly completed a comeback in game one, and despite the final score, they showed resilience in game two.
GAME ONE
Despite a valiant effort in the later innings, Parkside baseball fell short against No. 16 Minnesota State, losing 9-5 at Simmons Field on a chilly Tuesday afternoon.
Parkside showed grit throughout the contest, matching the Mavericks in hits with 13, but key home runs for Minnesota State proved to be the difference.
The Rangers struck first when Dylan Sayles delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the first to score Jackson Lindquist, giving Parkside an early 1-0 lead. The Mavericks responded in the second with a solo home run, and the two teams remained locked until a costly fifth inning saw Minnesota State plate four runs.
Parkside battled back in the sixth when Peter Fusek launched a clutch three-run homer that ignited the Rangers and cut the deficit to just one at 6-5. John St. Clair also contributed off the bench with a timely pinch-hit single that set up Fusek's blast.
Unfortunately, Minnesota State's bats stayed hot in the seventh as the Mavericks added three insurance runs, including a two-run homer from Louis Magers, effectively sealing the game.
Jackson Lindquist provided a spark at the plate for Parkside, going 2-for-4 with a solo home run. Meanwhile, Angel Rades chipped in two hits and added a stolen base. On the mound, starter Sam Mommer battled through 4.2 innings and impressed against the talented Minnesota State lineup.
GAME TWO
The Rangers swung the bats well early, matching the Mavericks through four innings. Parkside took a 5-2 lead in the fourth, highlighted by back-to-back home runs from Owen Brock and Jackson Lindquist. Brock crushed a two-run blast to left field before Lindquist followed with a solo shot.
Parkside's offense delivered 16 hits on the day, with standout performances from Brock (2-for-4, 2 RBIs), Lindquist (3-for-5, HR, RBI), and Carter Storti (3-for-5, 2B). The Rangers' aggressive baserunning also played a factor, as Peter Fusek and Angel Rades each swiped a base.
On the mound, Noah Gerritson kept Minnesota State in check early, scattering six hits over 4.1 innings while striking out seven. However, Minnesota State's offense found its groove late, piling on 14 runs over the final four frames to put the game out of reach.
Despite the final score, Parkside battled hard against a top-tier opponent. The Rangers displayed promising offensive firepower and will look to bounce back in four days.
NEXT
Parkside will look ahead to this upcoming weekend with four conference games on the slate. The Rangers will host Grand Valley State beginning Friday at Historic Simmons Field. For coverage of the events, visit ParksideRangers.com/coverage.
