MARSHALL - Facing Watertown (S.D.) on Sunday for a Legion baseball doubleheader, the Marshall Mudcats played 10 innings of solid baseball.
One problem: the team needed 12 innings of solid baseball in order to come away with any victories.
Marshall fell to 5-13 on the season after getting swept by Watertown, losing 1-0 and 13-0 in five innings.
Article Photos
Photo by Joe Brown
Watertown (S.D.) right fielder Bradey Blackwell (10), slides under Marshall second baseman Leo Zerr for a stolen base in the first inning of Game 2 of Sunday’s Legion baseball doubleheader at Legion Field. Watertown swept the twin bill with wins of 1-0 and 13-0.
The Mudcats got just four hits in each game, and making any rally difficult was the flawless play of Watertown's defense.
"They made every play. It seemed like their guys were always in the right spots," said Marshall head coach Chace Pollock. "Their center fielder could run down a lot of balls, and what can you do for that? You have to tip your hat to that."
In Game 1, both teams went hitless through the first three innings, with the Mudcats getting the first hit in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out single by Matt Campion. Riley Carpenter followed Campion with a single, but Watertown escaped the inning unscathed.
Mitch Trego got Watertown's first hit in the top of the fifth, but it was Alex Turbak that got the lone run on board. In the top of the sixth, Turbak belted a two-out double. The next batter, Mitch Moes, brought Turbak home on an RBI single, providing Watertown with the cushion it needed for the victory.
Again, it was Watertown's defense that proved to be the difference in the opener.
"They turned a big double play in that game," Pollock said. "Their pitcher made an out on a bunt play to get us at home, too. Fundamentally, we wish we could put the bunt in another spot."
While Game 1 proved to be a one-run affair, that was hardly the case in Game 2.
Watertown opened Game 2 by getting its first five batters on base on three hits, an error and a walk. Trego crushed a two-run double off of Mudcats' starting pitcher Mason Schnaible, sparking a six-hit, five-run outing. Schnaible lasted just a third of an inning before Derek Holland came on in relief.
"He didn't have the zip that he normally does," Pollock said of Schnaible. "He looked like he was a little dead, and he hasn't thrown a whole lot for us this summer. He just didn't have it today."
After getting beaten up in the first, Holland prevented Watertown from increasing its lead over the next three frames, throwing three straight 1-2-3 innings.
"Derek attacked the zone and he got up early in counts, which helped him," Pollock said. "His breaking ball was working today and that kept them off-balance."
Marshall managed to get leadoff singles in the first and third innings, but the Watertown defense halted each opportunity with inning-ending double plays. Watertown pitcher Mike Sitter went all five innings, keeping the ball in the infield for most of the contest. The Mudcats did not manage to get a runner on second base until the fifth inning.
Holland hit a wall in the fifth, allowing three hits and three walks before being pulled after 3 2/3 innings of work. By the end of the half-inning, Watertown scored seven runs on five hits and an error, putting the 10-run rule into effect.
"Those two innings just killed us," Pollock said. "Six in the first and seven in the fifth."
Turbak went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Trego was 2-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Marshall heads to Minnetonka on Friday to play in the Gopher Classic, opening the two-day tournament against Oakdale.
Game 1
Watertown000 001 0-1 5 0
Marshall000 000 0-0 4 2
W-Brady Ries. M-Aaron Mathiowetz. WP-Ries. LP-Mathiowetz. 2B: W-Alex Turbak. LOB: W-5; M-4.
Game 2
Watertown600 07-13 10 0
Marshall000 00-0 4 2
W-Mike Sitter. M-Mason Schnaible, Derek Holland (1), Ben Sanders (5). WP-Sitter. LP-Schnaible. 2B: W-Mitch Trego. LOB: W-5; M-5.