Austin Packers baseball team sweeps doubleheader from Faribault Monday by scores of 3-1 and 3-2

After having three straight games postponed due to rain, including a doubleheader last Thursday at Dick Seltz Field versus Faribault and a matchup at home with Rochester John Marshall Saturday, the Austin Packers baseball team was able to get back into action Monday versus the Falcons in a rescheduled twin bill with two five-inning games to be played.  In Game 1, Austin jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on their way to a 3-1 win, and in Game 2, the Packers again jumped out to an early lead, and then scored the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the third to win 3-2 and complete the doubleheader sweep.

In the first game, the Packers plated three runs in the bottom of the first for a 3-0 lead, and those were all the runs starting pitcher Peyton Ransom would need, as he pitched all five innings and gave up one run, which was unearned, on only two hits, striking out five and walking three.  Offensively for Austin, Nick Robertson was 2 for 2 with a double and a run scored, Dakota Retterath went 1 for 2 with a double, an RBI and a run scored, and Ransom helped his own cause by going 1 for 2 with a run scored.

In Game 2, the Packers pushed across a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead, only to see Faribault come back with a pair of runs of their own in the top of the second to knot the game at 2 apiece.  Austin tallied a run in the bottom of the third to take a 3-2 lead, and pitcher Blake Cummings, who earned the win in relief and the Packers defense made the lead stand up for the win.

Cummings pitched the last 3 and 2/3rds of an inning and gave up no runs on one hit, striking out five and walking one to earn the win.  Sam Oelfke went the first 1 and 1/3rd for the Packers and gave up two runs, both earned, on one hit, striking out two and walking two.  Offensively for Austin, Isaac Stromlund went 1 for 2 with an RBI and a stolen base, Nick Robertson went 1 for 1 with a stolen base and two runs scored, and Dakota Retterath was 1 for 2 with a stolen base and a run scored.

With the doubleheader sweep, the Packers are now 6-7 overall on the season, and Austin is right back into action today (Tuesday) at home versus Rochester Century, with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m.