Austin Greyhounds go 2-1 in a busy weekend of action
The Austin Greyhounds encountered the busiest stretch to date on their 2020 schedule over the weekend, with Twin Rivers League matchups on the road against Pine Island Friday night, at Waseca Saturday night and back at Marcusen Park Sunday evening versus Wanamingo. The Hounds were victorious by a big score over the Pioneers Friday night 18-1 in seven innings, held off the Braves in Waseca Saturday night 11-9 before falling to the Jacks Sunday evening 7-2.
In the 18-1 win Friday evening in Pine Island, Angel Santiago was 3 for 5 with a double, two runs knocked in and two runs scored, Eric Torres was 2 for 5 with three RBI’s, Alex Ciola was 2 for 3 with a double and three RBI’s, Michael O’Connor was 1 for 4 with a double, two RBI’s and a run scored, John Kirby was also 1 for 4 with two RBI’s and two runs scored, Zach Bollingberg was 1 for 2 with a triple and two runs scored, Isaac Schumacher was 1 for 2 with a run knocked in and three runs scored, Tony Ciola was 1 for 2 with a RBI and Dan Bollingberg was 1 for 3 out of the lead-off spot for Austin with three runs scored.
John Kirby earned the win on the hill for the Hounds as he pitched six innings and gave up the one Pioneer run on only two hits while striking out nine. Alex Ciola finished up with an inning of scoreless relief.
Austin had the bats going again Saturday night in Waseca as they led at one point 11-3 before holding off a late charge by the Braves to earn their sixth win overall on the season and their fifth in the Twin Rivers League. In their Sunday night matchup with Wanamingo, the Jacks were actually the home team on the scoreboard at Marcusen Park due to the fact that the City of Wanamingo will not allow games to be played on the city’s field due to COVID-19. The Jacks, though, made themselves right at home as pitcher Sam Roosen fired a complete game four-hitter to help lead Wanamingo to a 7-2 win.
The other main story line of the game was timely two-out hitting by Wanamingo, as the Jacks sent eight men to the plate in the bottom of the 1st and scored two runs on a two-out, two-run double off the bat of centerfielder Eric Swiggum. Wanamingo struck again with two outs in the 2nd when Sam Roosen helped his own cause with a two-out, two RBI single to increase the Jacks’ lead to 4-0. Wanamingo chased Hounds starter Josi Bothun in the 3rd when second baseman Brady Anfinson belted a two-out, two RBI triple to increase the Jacks’ lead to 6-0.
Roosen retired the first 10 Greyhound hitters he faced until Jordan Hart blasted a long home run over the right centerfield fence in the top of the 4th to put the Hounds on the board at 6-1. He added a triple to deep center in the top of the 9th, and Steve Serratore accounted for the other Austin run when he went deep in the 7th. First baseman John Kirby picked up the other hit in the game for Austin, a line-drive single to left in the 5th.
Austin now stands at 6-4 overall and 5-2 in Twin Rivers League play. The Hounds are back in action Wednesday night in Owatonna, with first pitch at 7:30 p.m. before returning to Marcusen Park Friday night versus Dodge County in their regular season finale, with first pitch again scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
