The #6 seeded Randall Cubs opened their best 2-out-of-3 series with the #11 seeded Pierz Bulldogs with a 5-0 win as lefty Nathan Benning struck out 13 over 7 innings and Brett Stack had 2 hits including a 2-run single.
The Bulldogs had probably their best scoring chance of the game develop in the top of the 1st when Cooper Grashorn singled with 2 outs, followed by a double down the left field line from Teddy Dehler. But with runners at 2nd and 3rd, Nathan Benning struck out Kyle Hastings to end the inning.
Randall got on the board in the bottom of the 2nd when Brett Strack led off with a walk against Pierz starter Kyle Hastings and was wild pitched to 2nd. Adam Nibaur then doubled to right to score Strack and make it 1-0. After a wild pitch moved Nibaur to 3rd, the Bulldogs tried to pick Nibaur at 3rd, but the throw sailed down the left field line, allowing Nibaur to score and make it 2-0 after 2 innings.
In the bottom of the 3rd, Zach Gwost led off with a walk , then Matt Otremba doubled. Brett Strack then lined a single to center, plating both Gwost and Otremba to put Randall ahead 4-0 after 3 innings.
It remained 4-0 until the bottom of the 6th when Brett Strack collected a lead-off single and went to 2nd on a wild pitch. After a strikeout and a walk to Bob Sanders, Darin Gerads delivered an rbi single to score Strack and give Randall a 5-0 lead after 6 innings.
That was more than enough run support for Nathan Benning, who retired 12 straight at one point from the 2nd to the 6th inning. Benning went 7 innings, scattering 4 hits and striking out 13 before turning things over to Brett Strack for the final 2 innings. Strack finished things off by retiring 6 of the 7 men he faced as the Cubs took Game 1 by a score of 5-0.
Pierz Bulldogs 0 4 2 – 0
Randall 5 5 1 – 5
WP: Nathan Benning 7.0IP 0 runs 4 hits 13k 1bb
Brett Strack 2.0IP 0 runs 0 hits 1k 0bb
LP: Kyle Hastings 2.0+IP 4 runs 3 hits 1k 4bb
Cooper Grashorn 6.0IP 1 run 2 hits 7k 1bb
Cubs:
Alex Gwost 0-4
Nathan Benning 0-4
Zach Gwost 0-3 bb, run
Matt Otremba 1-4 2B, run
Brett Strack 2-3 bb, 2 rbi, 2 runs
Adam Nibaur 1-4 2B, rbi, run
Bob Sanders 0-1 2bb
– RJ Sandbakken 0-1
Darin Gerads 1-3 rbi
Dane Peterson 0-2 bb
Bulldogs:
Sawyer Lochner 0-3 bb
Craig Luberts 0-4
Cooper Grashorn 1-4
Teddy Dehler 1-4 2B
Kyle Hastings 1-4
Mason Herold 1-3 2B
Jackson Thielen 0-3
Brian Kiel 0-3
Link Toops 0-2
– Bradyn Haberman 0-1