Mudhens get first win over Marshall

By Byron Higgin

Mascot Sports Editor

Mudhen Manager Tyson Sonneburg had a grin on his face as he gathered his teammates around him.

"Now they're talking about the Mudhens," he smiled.

For the first time ever — the Minneota Mudhens defeated the Marshall A's, 14-7, to run their record to 6-2 on the season.

"You're a good team. Remember that — you're a good team," Sonnenburg beamed.

"When you're ace is battling through things and keeps battling, that's what I like," said Jesse Drager, who is rehabilitating a swollen heal on his foot. He switched from catcher to second base and let Beay Buysse do the catching. Drager was talking about pitcher Danny Hennen, who starte and went into the sixth before he finally was relieved by Canby native Bryce Gorder — who shut the door on the A's.

"You really moved around well back there and hustled after everything," Drager told Buysse. Drager also delivered a big two-run double in the sixth when he hit the ball down the left field line with the bases loaded.

But the big smash of the night was Adam Durfee's long, long, high home run that cleared everything over the left field line. It was his third of the year.

On this hot, muggy night, Danny Hennen didn't have his best stuff — and he was visibly battling the humidity as well as the A's. He threw 110 pitches and struck out five and got the win. But it was Gorder who put out the fire with three and two-thirds innings of four-hit pitching with five strikeouts that kept the A's from mounting a comeback.

At the plate, Brock Buysse had a banner night with three singles, going 3-4 with a sacrifice fly to center to drive in a run. Jake Leighton also added three hits, including a two-run double in the second inning. He was 3-6.

Minneota jumped out to a 3-0 lead, went to 5-0 and clung to a 5-4 lead after two innings.

But they quickly added three in the third and Durfee's two-run shot in the fourth for a 10-6 lead through five innings.

Drager's double put it out of reach. Later Assistant Coach Beau Buysse said, "Up to the eighth we scored in every inning. That's what we've got to do."

Minneota has a tough schedule this week. The Mudhen's host Hancock in a 7:30 p.m. game Friday, play a 2 p.m. game at Clinton on Sunday and host Windom in a 4 p.m. Memorial Day game on Monday.

Mudhens               323 203 100 — 14 121

Marshall                 040 021 000 — 7 13 4

WP-Danny Hennen. (Bryce Gorder in the sixth). Catcher Beau Busse.

LP-Justin Mettling. Logan Tomasek in the second; Ryan VanMoer in the sixth. Catcher Alex Thompson.

HITTING: Minneota: Adam Durfee two-run home run. Brock Buysse 3-4; Jake Leighton 3-6; Jesse Drager double, two RBI's).

Marshall: Nate Hofet 3-6; two RBI; Jon Ellis 2-4; Joey Blanchard 4-4, 2 RBI; Ryan VanMoer 2-5.