By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield baseball team came into its weekend tournament having lost all nine nonconference games it had played.
The Tigers stopped that streak with an 11-8 win over Holmen on Friday and continued their winning ways with a pair of victories Saturday, beating River Falls 12-7 and Janesville Parker 4-3 in eight innings to complete the Marshfield Tournament with a perfect 3-0 record.
Marshfield improves to 7-13 overall and takes its 4-4 Wisconsin Valley Conference mark into Monday’s game at Wausau East.
“The kids were patient at the plate, relaxed and hitting the ball pretty well,” Marshfield coach Mark Zee said. “It was nice to have some nice weather and it was fun to play ball. Three good games.”
The Tigers ripped 11 hits in the opener Saturday against River Falls, scoring 10 runs in the fourth and fifth innings to erase a 4-2 deficit.
Trevor Larson picked up the win, and Sully Luepke and Elliot Ashbeck each had three hits in the win. Ashbeck hit a home run and knocked in three runs. Shawn Esselman also had two hits and two RBIs.
In Game 2 against Parker, Brandon Voss earned the win after pitching a scoreless eighth inning in relief of sophomore Sean Koran, who walked four and struck out four in seven innings in his first varsity start.
The Tigers won it when Josh Lutz delivered a two-out infield single to score Esselman.
“Brandon Voss threw seven innings in two games, Sean Koran threw really well and Trevor Larson threw a really good game today,” Zee said. “Our catcher Brett Baur did a great job with them. He’s controlling the game, controlling the pitching staff and he deserves some credit, too. He’s been a workhorse for us all year.”
Marshfield also hosts Medford in a nonconference game Tuesday and plays at Wisconsin Rapids on Thursday in a WVC game.
Game 1
Tigers 12, Wildcats 7
River Falls 101 112 1 – 7 10 2
Marshfield 002 460 x – 12 11 1
WP: Trevor Larson. LP: Feyereisen.
Top hitters: M, Sully Luepke 3-for-5, 2 runs; Josh Lutz 2 runs; Elliot Ashbeck 3-for-3, HR, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Shawn Esselman 2-for-4, 2 RBIs.
Game 2
Tigers 4, Vikings 3 (8 inn.)
Janesville Parker 201 000 00 – 3 7 1
Marshfield 110 001 01 – 4 9 0
WP: Brandon Voss.
SO: M, Sean Koran 4, Voss 1. BB: Koran 4, Voss 0.
Top hitters: M, Koran 1B, RBI; Lutz 1B, RBI.
