MARSHALL - Two big innings and steady pitching gave the Marshall A's a 10-0 victory in seven innings over Granite Falls on Friday night.
The Marshall bats were awake from the start of the game. Zach Olson had the first hit for the A's, a one-out triple in the bottom of the first. Olson scored on an Andrew Kinney ground ball for Marshall's first run. It was the only run the A's would need, but not the only run they would score.
Derek West, playing in just his second game for the A's this summer, drove in two runs with a two-out double. West scored on a Kyle Young double for the A's fourth run in the inning, finishing the night 2-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs, and a double.
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Photo by Travis Andries
Marshall A’s outfielder Zach Olson, left, finishes off his stand-up triple during Friday’s Corn Belt League game against the Granite Falls Kilowatts at Legion Field. The A’s needed only seven innings to defeat Granite Falls, 10-0.
"He's a nice guy to put back in that line-up," A's manager Sean Culhane said of West. "He's got a big bat. He's just a good baseball player and he makes us more solid."
Marshall nearly added a fifth run in the first, but Kyle Young was thrown out at the plate by Granite Falls center fielder Tyler Kanten.
After going hitless in the second inning, the A's struck again in the third. Five of the A's six runs in the inning were credited to Kilowatts starter Dylan Lindstrom. Young drove in Tyler Flattum and West on a one-out single. A's catcher Tanner Neale eventually drove in Young and ended Lindstrom's night. The A's had immediate and prolonged success against Lindstrom.
"He's a good hitting speed. Even for being a lefty, he's a perfect hitting speed," Culhane said.
Andrew Walters relieved Lindstrom but did not fare much better. The first batter he faced was A's shortstop Chace Pollock, who hammered a pitch down the third-base line. The ball took a strange hop off of Cody Fruin's glove, allowing Neale and Taylor Rignell to score. Pollock eventually scored on a Tyler Flattum single for the game's tenth run.
"We're starting to hit the ball. We're playing the way we need to be playing. I just hope we can hold onto it for a month," Culhane said.
Along with West, Young and Flattum also had excellent nights at the plate for the A's. Young finished 2-for-2 with three RBIs, a run scored, and a double, while Flattum went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run.
The A's only managed three hits over the final three innings, but mustered 16 hits total in the game. Despite the power outage for the A's, Marshall held on for the win via the efforts of their starting pitcher and defense.
Brandon Wilhelmi started for the A's, allowing just six hits over his seven shutout innings. Wilhelmi added three strikeouts and hit one batter.
Lindstrom pitched 2 1/3 innings for the Kilowatts, allowing nine runs (seven earned) on nine hits and three walks. Walters pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief allowing one unearned run on five hits. Kelly Siverhus pitched the final inning for Granite Falls, allowing just one hit with one strikeout. Tyler Dammann had the only multi-hit game for the Kilowatts, finishing 2-for-4.
The win over the Corn Belt League foe brings the A's to 4-2 in league play (18-5 overall) and extends their winning streak to six games.
The A's hope to continue their winning ways when they travel to Sacred Heart today for an important league match-up. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
GF000 000 0-0 6 1
M406 000 X-10 16 1
GF-Dylan Lindstrom, Andrew Walters (3), Kelly Siverhus (6). M-Brandon Wilhelmi. WP-Wilhelmi. LP-Lindstrom. 3B: M-Zach Olson. 2B: M-Derek West, Kyle Young.