After starting 5-0, Bulldog baseball team hits losing skid
Shortstop Carter Lightfoot launches the ball to first base for an out in MFL MarMac’s game one victory over North Fayette Valley. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Parker Kuehl dives back to first base in the first game of a twin bill versus the TigerHawks.
Kade Humble connects with a pitch in the Bulldogs' loss to Kee.
Jacob Schellhorn picked up a victory against NFV early in the week.
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
After sweeping North Fayette Valley in an Upper Iowa Conference doubleheader, the MFL MarMac baseball team ended last week on a three-game losing streak.
The winless TigerHawks jumped ahead 1-0 in the first game of the June 2 twin bill, then tied the score after the Bulldogs responded with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. MFL MarMac later pushed across six unanswered runs to win 8-2.
Jacob Schellhorn limited NFV to two hits and two runs—neither of them earned—while striking out six batters over five innings. Kade Humble allowed just one walk in two innings of relief.
Ben Krambeer singled twice and drove in two Bulldog runs. Carter Lightfoot knocked in a pair of runs on one hit, and also reached on an error and scored. Schellhorn was 2-4 with an RBI, while Jaron Wille singled and reached on an error, stole a base and scored two runs.
Game two was an even more dominant performance from the Bulldogs, as Parker Kuehl threw a five-inning one-hitter with no walks and six strikeouts. The TigerHawks reached base twice on errors.
The MFL MarMac offense racked up seven hits and 12 walks in the 12-0 victory, which included a four-run second inning and five-run fourth. Krambeer played a part in seven of the runs, driving in five on three hits, and scoring twice himself. Jaxon Millage was 2-2 with a walk and two RBIs, in addition to scoring a run. Kyler Nuehring was on base twice with a single and walk, drove in two runs and scored once.
Alburnett handed the Bulldogs their first loss of the season in a June 4 extra innings showdown in Monona. The teams were tied 2-2 through seven innings after the Pirates scored in the top of the sixth. Three innings of scoreless ball followed, before Alburnett put up a four-spot in the 11th for a 6-2 victory.
Three Bulldogs took the mound that night, including four innings for Millage, who allowed one hit, five walks and one earned run. Nuehring surrendered just two hits, two walks and a run over five innings. Wille took the loss after giving up five hits, two walks and a hit batter in one inning. None of the four runs scored against him were earned.
MFL MarMac’s offense combined for eight hits, with two apiece from Wille and Schellhorn. Wille also stole a base and scored. Humble doubled and had a sac fly and RBI. Brady Welsh had an RBI single and was hit by a pitch.
A late inning rally fell short for the Bulldogs in a 5-3 loss to Kee the following night. The Hawks were coasting on a 5-0 lead until MFL MarMac knocked in two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to narrow the gap. Another run came across in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn’t enough to catch Kee.
The Hawks hung eight hits and one walk on Schellhorn in five innings. Four of the five runs scored against him were earned. Humble threw two relief innings, walking one batter and hitting another.
Brayden Gordon accounted for three of MFL MarMac’s nine hits, including a double, and Kuehl picked up two hits. Schellhorn posted a two-RBI triple and scored a run, while Krambeer singled, reached on an error and drove in a run. Lightfoot reached base twice on a single and an error and also scored two runs.
MFL MarMac was clinging to a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning of a non-conference game versus Wapsie Valley on June 6, when the Warriors cranked out three runs in the top of the frame and two more in the seventh to beat the Bulldogs 5-1.
Kuehl pitched five and one-third innings in the loss, allowing two hits, four walks, a hit batter and three earned runs. He struck out five Warriors. Welsh gave up three hits, three walks and two runs—one of them earned—in one and one-third innings.
The Bulldogs were limited to just three hits, led by an RBI double from Krambeer. Schellhorn singled and had a sac fly, while Kuehl picked up a hit and scored a run.
MFL MarMac finished the week 5-3. The team plays every night this week, starting with a doubleheader at Clayton Ridge-Central on June 9, then games at South Winneshiek June 10 and Edgewood-Colesburg June 11. They’ll host Turkey Valley June 12 and Maquoketa Valley on June 13.
