Dell Rapids PBR took the win in the first match-up against the Dell Rapids Mudcats this year with a 10-9 come-from-behind win on Sunday, May 31st at Rickeman Field.
Landon Ruesink put the Mudcats on the board with a two-run triple in the bottom of the first. Kason Syverson followed with an RBI double, and the Mudcats led 3-0 at the end of the first inning. Nate Nichols tied the game for PBR, 3-3, with a bases-clearing double in the top of the second. The Mudcats regained the lead in the bottom of the inning. Ty Hoglund had a bases-loaded walk, and Carter Gullickson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Josh Roemen had a sacrifice fly that brought home two runs to give the Mudcats a 7-3 lead.
The score remained 7-3 until the top of the sixth inning. Beau Behrend scored on an error, and Connor Spindler had an RBI single to get PBR within two, 7-5. Ty Hoglund drove home a run in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI double to extend the Mudcat lead to 8-5. The big inning for PBR game in the top of the eighth inning. Chris Kropuenske drew a bases-loaded walk. Spindler brought home two more runs to tie the game, 8-8, with a double. Weston Hansen put PBR in front 10-8 with a two-run double of his own. Josh Roemen had a two-out solo home run for the Mudcats in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Tad Tjaden got a strikeout to end the game.
For the Mudcats Roemen had two hits, including a home run, and three RBIs. Hoglund had two hits, one a double, and two RBIs. Austin Henry also had two hits. Ruesink finished with a triple and two RBIs. Gullickson and Syverson each had a double and an RBI. Gauge Bunkers and Thomas Schuring both had one hit each. Syverson pitched four innings and allowed three runs, all unearned, on a hit and three walks with three strikeouts. Treyse Eastman tossed three innings and allowed six earned runs on three hits and four walks with four strikeouts. Ruesink also pitched two innings and allowed an earned run on two hits with four strikeouts.
Spindler had two hits, one a double, and three RBIs for PBR. Nicholes added a double with three RBIs. Hansen had a double and two RBIs. Drew Sweeter also had a double. Puetz and Kropuenske each had one RBI. D. Sweeter pitched 6 2/3 innings and allowed one earned run on four hits with 12 strikeouts. Grant Sweeter pitched 1 1/3 innings and allowed seven earned runs on five hits and two walks. Tjaden pitched one inning and allowed an earned run on two hits with one strikeout.
