International Falls’ baseball team played two five-inning games at home this week and ended up on both the winning and losing end of the 10-run rule.
On Tuesday, amid the damp playing conditions, the Broncos gave up 9 nine runs in the fourth inning before losing to Hibbing, 12-2.
“I think we played with a lack of intensity (Tuesday night), and it showed in everything we did,” said Falls head coach Vic Heinlen. “It showed at the plate. We didn’t hit the ball when we had runners in (scoring) position.
“We didn’t put the bat on the ball. We chased some pitches we shouldn’t have been chasing.”
Fielding woes also hobbled the Broncos as they committed 9 errors.
Christian Kittelson pitched the first three innings and took the loss, giving up 3 runs on 3 hits with 3 walks while striking out five.
Josh Potter came in to pitch in the top of the fourth and worked 2/3 innings, giving up 9 runs on 6 hits with 2 walks and a strikeout.
Ben Humbert closed out the final 1 1/3 innings without allowing a run on a hit with a strikeout.
Hibbing’s winning pitcher, Connor Perry, went all five innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits with 2 walks while striking out seven.
Caleb Dahlin doubled, while five other Bronco batters each singled.
Austin Rohwer led Hibbing with 3 hits, while Nick Milani and Tyler Carlson each added a pair of hits.
I. Falls 16, NE Range 2
Sophomore Wyatt Ulrich pitched all five innings in his first varsity start Monday when Falls’ baseball team won at home against Northeast Range, 16-2.
“First off, I was riled, I was so scared, but after a while when I was throwing strikes it went all right,” Ulrich said. “I didn’t know until we went into the locker room whether I was pitching or not, so I wasn’t really prepared, but it turned out OK.”
Only one of the Nighthawks’ 2 runs was earned when Ulrich allowed 2 hits with 2 walks while striking out four.
The Broncos, who dominated the game after recording 11 runs in the bottom of the second, ended up with 12 hits.
Kevin Kilbride led the Falls with 3 singles, while Gunnar Anderson, Christian Kittelson and Jack Mellstrom added 2 hits apiece.
Kyle Durbin recorded the pitching loss for Northeast Range in three innings of work, giving up all 16 runs on 12 hits with 2 walks while striking out two.
The Falls, which has a record of 4-5, hosts Virginia on Thursday before Friday’s road game at Mesabi East.
Hermantown sweeps Falls
Falls’ baseball team went scoreless Saturday when the Broncos lost a doubleheader at Hermantown.
In game one, the Hawks shut out the Falls, 7-0.
Caleb Dahlin pitched two innings to record the loss, giving up 6 runs, five earned, on 3 hits with 4 walks and a pair of batters hit by a pitch.
Josh Potter threw the final four innings in relief and gave up an unearned run on 4 hits with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.
Hermantown’s Kevin Stocke pitched a complete-game shutout as he allowed a hit with 2 walks while striking out eight.
A single by Gunnar Anderson was the only hit the Falls could muster.
Mike Robertson led the Hawks with a pair of singles as five other players had a hit apiece.
Hermantown 3, I. Falls 0
The Broncos trailed by only a run for much of game two before giving up a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth and losing to Hermantown, 3-0.
Anderson recorded the loss pitching the first four innings, giving up an earned run on 2 hits with a pair of walks and a strikeout. Ben Humbert pitched the final two innings, allowing 2 runs, one earned, on a hit with 2 walks.
Lane LeGarde took the win for the Hawks after pitching six innings and giving up 3 hits with 3 walks while striking out seven. Jared Thomas allowed a hit and struck out a batter working an inning.
Anderson, Humbert, Jackson Vollom and Cole Miggins each had a single for the Broncos.
Joe Muench, Neal Pionk and Brian LeBlanc each singled for Hermantown.
