The Randall Cubs downed the Pierz Bulldogs 8-5 in Game 2 of their best 2-out-of-3 playoff series on Saturday, completing a sweep to puts the Cubs into next week’s Region 9C Tournament. After the Bulldogs had tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the 7th, Nathan Benning lined a solo Homer to left-center to give Randall a 4-3 lead. The Cubs then tacked on another 4 runs in the top of the 9th on a pair of 2-run singles from Nathan Benning and Matt Otremba to go ahead 8-3. The Bulldogs did score 2 in the bottom of the 9th and got the potential tying run to the plate with 2 outs, but reliever Brett Strack, who finished both games on the mound, ended the game with a strikeout of Mason Herold to give the Cubs an 8-5 win.
Just like in Game 1, Randall struck for 2 runs in the 2nd inning and again it was Adam Nibaur that got things started. His rbi single brought home Brett Strack to make it 1-0. After a Bob Sanders singled moved Nibaur to 3rd, the Cubs executed a delayed steal with Sanders breaking for 2nd before stopping and staying in a rundown long enough for Nibaur to score from 3rd to make it 2-0.
In the top of the 4th, Alex Gwost singled, went to 2nd on a wild pitch and eventually scored on an error to give Randall a 3-0 lead.
The Bulldogs scored their first run of the day in the bottom of the 4th when Kyle Hastings walked with 2 outs, followed by another walk to Mason Herold. Hastings then stole 3rd and scored on an rbi single from Brian Kiel to make it 3-1 after 4 innings.
In the bottom of the 7th, still trailing 3-1, the Bulldogs got a lead-off single from Ashton Poser, then a walk to William Dehler. Craig Luberts then singled through a drawn-in infield to score Ashton Poser to make it 3-1, with William Dehler advancing to 3rd. Cooper Grashorn then tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring William Dehler and it was 3-3 after 7 innings.
In the top of the 8th, Bulldogs pitcher Brian Kiel got Dane Peterson to fly out to William Dehler in right, but then Nathan Benning drilled a line-drive Homer to left-center to put Randall back in front 4-3.
In the top of the 9th, Adam Nibaur opened the inning with a double to right, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Bob Sanders. After an error and a walk to Dane Peterson, Randall had the bases loaded. Nate Benning ripped a 2-run single to bring home Nibaur and pinch-runner RJ Sandbakken to make it 6-3. 1 out later, Matt Otremba added a 2-run single of his own, chasing home Peterson and Benning to give the Cubs and 8-3 lead going to the bottom of the 9th.
In the bottom of the 9th, Ashton Poser led off with a single to left, his 3rd hit of the game. William Dehler then hit into a force out at 2nd for the 1st out. Craig Luberts then singled and Cooper Grashorn drove in William Dehler with a ground ball to 3rd. The Cubs were conceding the run, and Grashorn was safe on a throwing error. Teddy Dehler then hit into a force out at 2nd for the 2nd out, bringing up Kyle Hastings delivered an rbi single to score Cooper Grashorn and make it 8-5, with Teddy Dehler at 2nd and Kyle Hastings at 1st and Mason Herold coming up as the tying run with 2 outs. But Brett Strack got Herold to fly out to right to end the game and complete the sweep for the Cubs with the 8-5 win.
The 2 losses end the season for the Pierz Bulldogs while the Randall Cubs will compete in the Region 9C Tournament beginning in Pierz next Friday night.
Randall 8 11 3 – 8
Pierz Bulldogs 5 7 3 – 5
WP: Brett Strack 3.0IP 2 runs 4 hits 0k 0bb
Adam Nibaur 6.0IP 1 run 2 hits 3k 5bb
Zach Gwost 0.0IP 2 runs 1 hit 0k 1bb
LP: Brian Kiel 8.0+IP 7 runs 9 hits 5k 2bb
Cooper Grashorn 1.0IP 1 run 2 hits 0k 0bb
Cubs:
Nathan Benning 2-5 Hr, 3 rbi, 2 runs
Zach Gwost 2-4 bb
Matt Otremba 2-5 2 rbi
Brett Strack 1-5 run
Alex Gwost 1-3 sac, run
Adam Nibaur 2-4 2B, rbi, 2 runs
Bob Sanders 1-3 sac
Darin Gerads 0-4
– RJ Sandbakken 0-0 run
Dane Peterson 0-3 bb, run
Bulldogs:
Craig Luberts 2-5 rbi
Cooper Grashorn 0-3 sac fly, bb, 2 rbi, run
Teddy Dehler 0-5
Kyle Hastings 1-4 bb, sb, rbi, run
Mason Herold 0-3 2bb, sb
Brian Kiel 1-4 sb, rbi
Aeden Janson 0-3 bb
Ashton Poser 3-4 run
William Dehler 0-2 bb, sac, 2 runs