Austin Greyhounds use big 2nd inning to down P-E-M 15-0 in 7 innings Sunday

The Austin Greyhounds amatuer baseball team entertained the Planview-Elgin-Millville Bucks in a non-league game at Marcusen Park Sunday evening, and it was the Greyhounds sending 13 men to the plate and exploding for nine runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning to help themselves to a 15-0 win in 7 innings.

After P-E-M left the bases loaded against Austin starter Aramis Laureno in the top of the first, the ‘Hounds took a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the inning when third baseman Zach Bollingberg singled and went to third when centerfielder Jordan Hart reached on a two-base error on a dropped fly ball in deep center field.  Catcher Nestor Jimenez then scored Bollingberg with a RBI groundout for a 1-0 Austin lead.

The Bucks had another chance to score in the top of the 2nd with a pair of hits, but they were not able to push a run across to help set the stage for Austin’s nine-run explosion to break the game wide open.  First baseman Nick Robertson led off the inning with a single,  second baseman Jack Dankert reached on an error and rightfielder Sam Nelsen reached on an infield single to load the bases.  Leftfielder Alex Ciola was then hit by a pitch to score a run to make it 2-0, Zach Bollingberg then followed with a two-RBI single to increase the Austin lead to 4-0 and with two men on, Jordan Hart belted a fastball over the right field fence for a three-run homer to make the score 7-0.  The Greyhounds reloaded the bases and designated hitter  Mark Harber scored on a wild pitch, another run scored on a wild pitch as well and another scored on a throwing error by Bucks catcher Mark Buringa to give the Greyhounds a 10-0 lead after two.

Austin scored two more runs in the bottom of the 3rd when Jordan Hart walked, then was safe at second on a error when Jimenez hit into a fielder’s choice.  He then stole third and scored when shortstop Tony Ciola hit into a fielder’s choice for a RBI.  Cole Walter, who came into courtesy run for Jimenez wound up scoring on an errant pickoff throw to first to make the score 12-0.  Walter then came into the game in right field and led off the bottom of the 4th with a double.  He then went to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch to increase the ‘Hounds lead to 13-0, and Austin added two more runs in the 5th when Walter belted a two-RBI single to make the score 15-0.

Laureno did the rest on the mound for Austin as he pitched the first six innings and gave up no runs on five hits, striking out nine and walking one in earning the win.  Harber came on to pitch a scoreless 7th inning, striking out one.

With the win, the Greyhounds are 4-2 overall on the season, and Austin returns to action Wednesday night as they start a three-game road swing in Pine Island versus the Pioneers, with first pitch at 7:30 p.m.