HUMBOLDT – The Flandreau Cardinals scored five runs in the top of the eighth inning to secure an 8-4 win over the Hartford-Humboldt Gamecocks on Sunday night in Humboldt.
Despite striking out 17 times, Flandreau rapped out nine hits and drew eight walks in picking up their ninth win of the season against four losses.
The Cardinals scored single runs in the second, third, and sixth inning before their eighth inning outburst.
Jordan Gessling was hit by a pitch with one out, and after a Gamecocks’ pitching change, Bret Severtson singled and Beau Severtson walked to load the bases.
The walks kept coming as Kasen Grengs and John Gassman each plated a run with a base on balls.
Kellan Culbert reached on an error that scored one and upped the Cardinals’ lead to 6-1.
Luke Gassman’s single scored two and upped the lead to 8-1.
Hartford-Humboldt got three runs back in the bottom of the eighth inning courtesy of a three-run home run but would leave two runners in scoring position. A leadoff double in the bottom of the ninth was the only batter to reach base as a fly out, ground out, and strike out ended the game.
Grant Hieb had two of Flandreau’s nine hits including the only extra base hit, a double.
Luke Gassman finished with two runs batted in and one hit while Grengs, John Gassman, and Culbert all drove in one run each.
Gesling struck out 14 in seven innings for the win, allowing just three hits. Gesling gave up three runs, two earned, while walking two and hitting two batters.
Grengs tossed the final two innings and notched three strikeouts, the Cardinals’ 17 punch outs matching their counterparts in the home dugout.
Flandreau (9-4) travels to Salem on Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. matchup with the Cubs before returning home on Tuesday, July 5 against the Colman A’s, also a 7:30 p.m. first pitch.
