Austin Greyhounds fall to Wanamingo Jacks 8-1 Wednesday night

The Austin Greyhounds were back in action after a 12-day hiatus versus Twin Rivers League rival Wanamingo at Marcusen Park Wednesday evening, and it was Jacks starting pitcher Alex Roosen firing a complete-game three hitter, along with Wanamingo’s offense coming alive starting in the middle innings to key an 8-1 win.

The Hounds took the lead in the bottom of the first inning when leadoff hitter Alex Ciola was hit by a pitch, and he wound up going to third base a batter later when rightfielder Eric Torres laid a beautiful bunt down the third base line, and Roosen’s throw the first sailed over the head of first baseman Jake Glarner for a two-base throwing error to put runners at second and third with no one out.  With one out, catcher Nestor Jiminez bounced a RBI single through the left side of the infield to score Ciola for a 1-0 lead, but Austin would not have another baserunner until the seventh inning, and they were held to one hit until picking up two in the bottom of the eighth, but a 4-6-3 double play turned by the Jacks ended the Greyhound’s threat.

Austin starter Jack Dankert was locked in a pitcher’s duel with Roosen until Wanamingo’s offense came alive in the top of the fifth.  The Jacks started the inning with a double down the left field line and two singles, plus they added a sacrifice bunt, a wild pitch and a RBI single to score three runs for a 3-1 lead.  Wanamingo added another run in the seventh off of reliever Alex Ciola on a pair of singles, a walk and a RBI groundout, and they tacked on three more runs in the eighth on a pair of singles, two stolen bases and, with two outs, a RBI single from first baseman Jake Glarner and a two-RBI double from third baseman Zach Hutton to make the score 7-1.  The Jacks added another run in the top of the ninth off of reliever Jordan Hart with a walk and a RBI triple from second baseman Rhett Evans for the 8-1 final.

The Hounds will return to action Saturday night at Marcusen Park versus Winona in a make-up game due to a rainout earlier this season, with first pitch at 6:00 p.m.  Austin will then travel to Owatonna on Sunday afternoon to take on the Aces, with first pitch for that game scheduled for 1:00 p.m.