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4/2/2009
Blazers Advantageous In Season Opener
Baseball: Marquette 7, La Crosse 1
Reprinted with permission from The News Dispatch
Ken Peterson
The News-Dispatch
LA CROSSE - Early season baseball games rarely feature big offensive displays.
That was the case in Wednesday afternoon's season opener between Marquette and La Crosse.
The teams combined for just 11 hits, but seven errors by La Crosse opened the door for the Blazers to plate five unearned runs in a 7-1 victory in a game called after six innings due to darkness.
"In high school baseball, if you put the ball in play something is going to happen," Blazers coach Bob Pitts said. "Every time that we got a hit, I think we drove in a run."
Marquette scored runs in the first four innings and broke the game open with a three-run fifth inning, capped by Andrew Nash's single to right that scored Hank Bobillo and Matt Pomranke.
"Give Marquette credit," La Crosse coach Dewey Bucher said. "We opened the door and once we opened the door, they took advantage of it. They're a good team."
The Blazers lead was a sufficient cushion for Nash, who picked up the win on the hill. Nash pitched four innings, gave up three hits while striking out six and walking five. Cole Tribble relieved Nash in the fifth and struck out two and walked one in two innings.
"Our pitchers looked absolutely good," Pitts said. "They were around the plate throwing strikes and that's all you can ask for."
It wasn't easy for Nash and Tribble as the Tigers had runners on base in each inning, but managed to score only once when Corey Terpening scored on a wild pitch.
La Crosse left the bases loaded twice and three times ended innings with two runners on.
"We definitely had the opportunity," Bucher said. "We didn't come through. But you've got to go up (to the plate) wanting it, especially when the game is on the line. But it's the first game of the year and we're going to get it together."
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