By Eric Kraushar
Contributing Writer
Moorhead didn’t put a runner on base until the fifth inning. When they had chances to score in the sixth and seventh inning, Baseball 365 pitcher Will Fazio had an answer.
The Mudcats, though, came through in the ninth inning, tying the game on an Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe double, before a wild pitch with the bases loaded and two outs allowed the eventual winning run to score in a 2-1 win over Baseball 365 Saturday in Belle Plaine.
It is the first state tournament win for Moorhead, playing in its fifth state tournament since 2019.
Baseball 365 lost despite 13 strikeouts from Fazio, who set down the first 14 Moorhead batters in the game.
That Moorhead had a chance to win late was due to Baseball 365 not able to score more runs early in the game. One run in the first inning was all Baseball 365 would score as they left five runners on base in the first four innings.
Moorhead starting pitcher Ty Syverson scattered eight hits with five strikeouts over six innings to keep the Mudcats in the game. Kyle Cluff threw the last three frames, striking out three, to earn the win.
Wyatt Rogers was 4-for-4 with two doubles for Baseball 365.
Moorhead will play the winner of Burnsville and Stillwater at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25 in Green Isle.
ST. PAUL MUDHENS 5, ST. MICHAEL SAINTS 0
Brady Drkula and Frank Volkers combined for a 1-hitter, leading St. Paul Mudhens to a 5-0 shutout of St. Michael on Aug. 17 in Belle Plaine.
Drkula struck out nine batters over seven innings, giving up one hit with five walks in the win. Volkers struck out four of seven batters faced in relief.
Teige Lethert, Diego Jirau and Logan Grimm each had two hits for the Mudhens, which scored solo runs in the first and fourth innings before breaking open the game with three runs in the seventh inning.
Max Sutter struck out seven batters over 5 2/3 innings, giving up one earned run in the loss for St. Michael.
Matthew Mortenson had the lone hit for the Saints.
St. Paul faces the Miesville in a battle of the Mudhens at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24 in Green Isle.
