The Dell Rapids Mudcats trailed by five runs to the Freeman Black Sox going into the top of the ninth inning. A five-run rally in the top of the ninth tied the game, and then another five-run rally in the top of the tenth gave the Mudcats a 15-10 win on Wednesday, August 13th to advance to quarterfinals of the 2025 South Dakota State B Amateur Baseball Tournament.
Caden Alfson had an RBI ground ball, and Chad Hunt had an RBI single in the top of the first to give the Mudcats an early 2-0 lead. Freeman took the lead in the bottom of the inning, 3-2, on a three-run home run to left field. The Black Sox extended the lead to 5-2 with a two-run single in the bottom of the third. Austin Henry brought the Mudcats within a run, 5-4, with a two-run home run to right field in the top of the fifth inning. Henry then had an RBI sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh to tie the game 5-5.
Freeman stopped any momentum that Dell Rapids was gaining. The Black Sox scored three times in the bottom of the seventh to go back in front 8-5. They added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth on a wild pitch and an RBI single to make the score 10-5 going into the ninth inning.
The first two batters for the Mudcats reached on a single to start the top of the ninth. Alfson then hit a three-run home run to left field to cut the lead to 10-8. Hunt and Drake Eastman followed with back-to-back walks. After a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout, Ty Huglund hit a two-out, RBI single to make the score 10-9. D. Eastman scored the game-tying run on a wild pitch before a groundout ended the inning. D. Eastman was able to work around a one-out error in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings.
The Mudcats got back to work offensively with one out in the top of the 10th. Alfson had an RBI double, Hunt followed with an RBI triple, and D. Eastman had an RBI single to give the Mudcats their first lead since the first inning, 13-10. Back-to-back errors brought home another run, and then Hoglund had an RBI single to push the lead to 15-10. J Goble retired the Black Sox in order to give Dell Rapids the win.
Alfson had three hits, which included a double and home run, and five RBIs. Henry also had three hits, one a home run, and three RBIs. Hunt added a single and triple with two RBIs. Hoglund finished with two singles and two RBIs. D. Eastman had two hits with an RBI. Carter Gullickson had a double. Reece Arbogast and Goble each had a single. Grant Olson finished with an RBI.
Treyse Eastman pitched 2 2/3 innings and allowed five earned runs on seven hits and two walks with a strikeout. Nolan Burchill pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed five runs, three earned, on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts. D. Eastman threw one inning and gave up a hit and two walks with two strikeouts. Goble pitched 1 2/3 innings and recorded three strikeouts.
Dell Rapids will face a familiar opponent from the Cornbelt League on Friday, August 15th. They will play the Humboldt/Hartford Gamecocks. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Brandon.
