The Laker baseball team won a pair of Jekyll and Hyde games winning 13-11 and 3-2 to sweep a Mid-State Conference doubleheader Thursday, April 29 in Aitkin.
DL got on the board first in the opener taking a 1-0 lead when leadoff Jordan Tucker walked, stole second base and scored from third on a Trevor Schnathorst groundout.
Aitkin responded with a five-run second inning, but that kicked the DL offense into gear.
The Lakers scored four runs in the third, six in the fourth and a pair in the fifth to take a 13-8 lead after five innings.
Tucker started the third inning rally scoring to close to 5-2. Logan Lund had the big hit, a three-run double to tie the score.
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Aitkin quickly regained a 7-5 lead in the bottom half, but would trail the remainder of the game after DL’s top half of the fourth.
The Lakers took advantage of three Gobbler gaffes in the field leading to a six-run, two-out rally.
Schnathorst doubled to center to start the rally. Oistad singled to bring Schnathorst home before three infield errors gave the Lakers an 11-7 advantage.
In the fifth, Schnathorst doubled in Tucker and scored on another infield error.
Both teams committed six errors in the game.
The Gobblers hung around scoring in each of the final three frames closing to 13-11 with two outs in the seventh with the tying run on base.
Tucker earned the save inducing a groundout to Schnathorst at shortstop to end the game.
Oistad started and threw 4.2 innings, allowing eight runs, four earned. He fanned five and walked six. Tucker closed out the final 2.1 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, walking and striking out one batter.
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Oistad helped himself out at the plate going 3-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Tucker (4 R), Schnathorst (3 RBI, 3 R) and Lund (4 RBI) each had two hits.
DL had 13 hits in the game.
The nightcap was highlighted by Bradly Swiers’ complete game, one-hitter on the mound to lead the Lakers to a tight 3-2 win.
Jacob Thomas gave DL a 1-0 lead in the second inning, coming home on a wild pitch.
Blaine Henderson scored on a Schnathorst double in the bottom of the fifth for a 2-0 lead. Schnathorst scored the eventual game-winner from third two batters later.
The Gobblers got on the board in the sixth and again rallied in their final at-bats.
Aitkin scored in the seventh on a DL error, but Swiers got a game-winning pop-out to Oistad at first base to complete a strong effort on the mound.
Swiers allowed just one hit and struck out five, throwing 103 pitches. Three Gobblers took the hill. DL tagged both runs on middle reliever Jesse Goettig.
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Aitkin dropped to 5-3 and 4-3 in Mid-State play.
Detroit Lakes is 6-2 overall and in command in the conference at 6-0.
The Lakers continue Mid-State play at home Tuesday, May 4, against Staples-Motley (3-2, 2-1) at Washington Park.
Detroit Lakes 13, Aitkin 11
DL 104 620 0 - 13 13 6
AT 052 012 1 - 11 8 6
WP: Zack Oistad; LP: Zack Ehnstrom; S: Jordan Tucker
Detroit Lakes 3, Aitkin 2
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AT 000 001 1 - 2 1 2
DL 010 020 X - 3 5 5
WP: Bradly Swiers, LP: Jesse Goettig.
Read more stories by Robert Williams here .
