May 4, 2018 at 12:40 p.m.
Big innings propel Hodag baseball to sweep
Big innings propel Hodag baseball to sweep
The Hodags used some clutch two-out hitting to build a lead in game 1 and then ended it with a big fifth inning by a score of 13-3. Back-to-back two-run hits broke up a no-hit bid in the fifth inning of game 2 and propelled Rhinelander to a 12-4 win in the nightcap at Stafford Field.
"It was great to see our bats again today - and really when you're playing these doubleheaders, that's kind of the key," coach Joe Waksmonski said. "You're offense has to come to play and if your bats are cold it's going to be a rough two games. It puts a lot of stress on your pitching and defense. Offensively, we did our job tonight."
A key in both games was Rhinelander's ability to answer and Medford advances. Every time Medford scored, the Hodags answered in the next half inning, matching or exceeding the Raiders' total from the previous frame.
"The great thing about this team that we're finding out is that they're very resilient," Waksmonski said as the Hodags ran their record to 8-0 to start the season. "When they're faced with adversity, they're up to the task so far."
First Game
Two-out hitting gave Rhinelander the lead, and one miscue in the fifth inning allowed the Hodags to bust the door open en route to a 13-3 win.
The Hodags cashed in right away in the first after Brad Comer reached on a two-out shot to third that went between Kolten Hansen's legs. Owen White followed with a two-run single to right and Liam Stevens doubled him home to put the Hodags up 3-0.
Rhinelander came through with two outs again in the second with Brad Quade and Comer delivering a pair of hits to extend the lead to five.
"We play to the last out and that's the great thing about this team so far. It's not over until it's over," Waksmonski said. "They're battling. They're into every single pitch and that's great to see."
Medford got a run back in the fourth on a Brady Loertscher RBI single, but the Hodags matched it in the bottom of the inning on an RBI fielder's choice by White. Medford scored twice in the fifth, but the Hodags put the game away after shortstop Zach Haynes misfired two second on what appeared to be a tailor-made double play chance in the bottom half of the inning.
The next five Hodag batters reached, highlighted by a bases-loaded two-run single by Jacob DeMeyer. RBI singles by Bryce Schickert and Eric Grulke closed the game via the 10-run rule.
DeMeyer went 4 1/3 innings in the win. He allowed three runs on three hits and struck out four.
Quade, DeMeyer, Comer and Josh Randolph each had two-hit games in game 1 as the Hodags shelled sophomore John McMurry in the opener. McMurry, who pitched a four-hit shutout against the Hodags last year at Stafford Field, was chased from the mound after 1 2/3 innings after allowing five runs on six hits.
Second Game
Medford struck first in game 2 but the Hodags ultimately had the last laugh as back-to-back shots by DeMeyer and Comer broke up Nick Retterath's no-hit and shutout bids in the fifth inning and the Rhinelander broke the game open against Medford's bullpen in a 12-4 win.
Two walks and an error loaded the bases for the heart of the Hodag order with one out in the fifth and they delivered. On back-to-back pitches DeMeyer drove in two on a single to left center and Comer doubled down the left field line to give Rhinelander a 4-1 lead.
"They're our leaders. You hate to say you expect that, but you kind of do with them," Waksmonski said. "We look to them to kind of lead our charge and they obviously did. After that, the cavalry was here."
Schickert added a sacrifice fly and Grulke added an RBI single in the inning. Medford got back to within two on a three-run homer by Cam Wenzel off Comer in the bottom of the inning, but Rhinelander put the game out of reach in the sixth as back-to-back-to-back RBI singles by White, Stevens and Schickert capped off a four-run frame.
"Two-out, RBI singles are huge momentum builders," Waskmoski said. "You can kind of crush the other team that way. To see those guys put those at-bats together, I think that was huge."
Rhinelander tacked on two more runs in the seventh.
Comer went five innings in the victory for Rhinelander. Three of the four hits he allowed were to Wenzel, who went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs. Randolph retired the last six batters to close out the game.
Something Medford did effectively was drive up the pitch count for both DeMeyer and Comer. DeMeyer was pulled following 94 pitches in game 1 and Comer needed 92 pitches to get through five innings in game 2.
"When we got to two strikes, it seemed like every one of their hitters would foul off one, two, three and make our guys throw those extra pitches," Waksmonski said. "Brad and JD we're exactly on their A-game and we were able to win when those two weren't exactly on their absolute very best. They did just enough to make their hitters put it in play and let our defense work. We went through two more games without any errors. Again, our defense, it's been lights-out so far here in the early going."
The Hodags are home again Monday to face Lakeland in a doubleheader.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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