This story is sponsored by Norm E Lane Farm
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
CHIPPEWA FALLS – Marshfield had numerous chances to grab another walk-off win in Thursday’s WIAA Division 1 baseball sectional semifinals against Hudson, but the Tigers couldn’t come up with the big hit.
Finally, in the 11th inning, Hudson came up big, plating four runs to topple the Tigers 5-1 at Casper Park.
Stevens Point (21-6) ended up winning the sectional title and clinching a spot in next week’s WIAA State Baseball Tournament in Appleton by beating Hudson (16-9) 4-2. Point will play Oconomowoc (17-11) in one of four Division 1 state quarterfinals on June 12.
Marshfield’s season ends with a 15-13 record.
Marshfield had the potential game-winning run thrown out at home plate in the bottom of the seventh inning, then stranded nine runners in the final five innings.
Hudson left a pair of runners on in the seventh and ninth innings before finally breaking through in the 11th against Marshfield reliever Bo Howard. A walk and three straight hits plated two runs, and three more walks forced in two more as the Raiders busted through after the game was 1-1 from the fourth inning on.
“The balls that we did hit were at people,” Marshfield coach Mike Zee. “We had our chances at the end. There was a close play at home, we had to send the guy with two outs, and they just made a nice play. These seniors have put together two really successful seasons – 30 wins in their two years – and I’m really proud of them.”
Marshfield scored in the bottom of the first when Elliot Ashbeck singled with two outs. Howard followed with a single and pinch runner Jordan Litwatis was able to come all the way around to score after a throwing error on the play.
The 1-0 lead held until the fourth when Hudson tied it. Todd Mork singled, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single to right by Josh Evenson.
That was all Hudson would get against Ashbeck, who scattered eight hits and did not walk a batter. He struck out 13 in a dominating performance.
“Elliot, what a game, what a way to finish his career as a Tiger,” Zee said.
Hudson starter Brett Steinwagner was nearly as impressive, allowing just two hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked three before giving way to reliever Kellen Pearson.
Marshfield had Pearson on the hook in the bottom of the seventh when Luke Wirth singled and Alex Steines walked with one out. After a strikeout, Litwatis singled and Hudson right fielder Drew Pheneger made a high throw to home, but catcher Miles Lewis snagged it and tagged out Calob Alexander at the plate on a close play.
Marshfield had runners on first and second with no outs in the ninth and the bases loaded with two outs in the 10th but couldn’t plate a run against Pearson.
“We tried to small ball, we didn’t push any runs trying to do that, we kind of played everything pretty much how you try to get a run,” Zee said. “We just couldn’t come up with a clutch hit here or there, or have them make a mistake to get us a run.”
Raiders 5, Tigers 1 (11 inn.)
Hudson 000 100 000 04 – 5 12 1
Marshfield 100 000 000 00 – 1 7 4
WP: Kellen Pearson. LP: Bo Howard.
SO: Brett Steinwagner 6, Pearson 1; Elliot Ashbeck 13, Howard 1, Tanner Brown 0. BB: Steinwagner 3, Pearson 4; Ashbeck 0, Howard 1, Brown 3.
Top hitters: H, Mike Hommes 3×6, 2B; Miles Lewis 2×6, RBI; Pearson 2×6, RBI; Josh Evenson 2×5, 2 RBIs. M, Howard 2×5.
Records: Hudson 16-8; Marshfield 15-13.