International Falls’ big comeback in the seventh inning Thursday fell just short in a 13-11 loss to Eveleth-Gilbert at Scheela Field.
No thanks to the first inning.
The Broncos — ending a 7-game homestand — started the game with a dud, surrendering six runs in the top of the first inning. The first three outs took 30 minutes, and although there was only one official error, that half hour was filled with mistakes for the Broncos (4-3).
“I guess we weren’t ready to play. I don’t know,” said senior Chris Little, who finished 3-for-3 with five RBIs.
Jordan Christianson had two hits and scored four times, Willie Corrin had two hits and scored three times and Christian Kittelson had two hits and scored twice, but it was the Broncos’ mistakes that made a chilly setting feel even colder. The Broncos finished with five errors, while only nine of the 13 runs for the Golden Bears were earned.
“If we wouldn’t have given them those (first inning runs), we would’ve won the game,” Little said. “It’s a learning process. Learn for next game.”
Eveleth-Gilbert (5-5), winners of five in a row, smacked two home runs and continued its hot hitting.
“It was a big win for us. The Falls always has a good program,” Golden Bears head coach Brian Landborg said.
John Overly, the winning pitcher, finished 3-for-5 with a double and two runs, Jim Paskett finished 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs and Joe Paskett went 2-for-3 with three runs. Ben Littler hit the other home run, crushing a 2-run, no-doubter over the fence in left field to make it 13-6 in the top of the seventh inning.
That’s when things got interesting.
“We knew they were going to make a last charge and it was just a matter of them hitting it at somebody,” Landborg said. “And fortunately they did.”
Jim Paskett, who relieved Overly to start the fifth, struck out two of the first three batters in the bottom of the seventh before the battery of Kittelson, Christianson, Corrin and Little stepped in. Kittelson hit an RBI single and Christianson and Corrin walked to load the bases. Little made it 13-9 with a 2-run double and Ames Bryant made it 13-11 with a 2-run single — his only hit of the game. The contest ended with Nick Lagen grounding out sharply to second base.
This was the third loss in a row for the Falls, which opened the season 4-0 and had Hermantown in a 4-2 hole before giving up six runs in the top of the seventh inning in that loss. The Broncos have struggled since.
“This team is quite capable of turning it around, but as coaches we can’t turn it around for them,” said Broncos head coach Vic Heinlen, who talked to his players for an extended period of time after the game.
Overly out-performed Adam Potter, who took the loss after surrendering nine runs (7 earned) in three innings. Overly gave up five runs (all earned) in four innings. Andy Jesperson pitched effectively in relief for the Broncos, giving up four runs (2 earned) in four innings.
“I know after seven home games that we’re 4-3 and we can be a good ball team,” Heinlen said. “But you have to A) Want to have fun to play the game right, and B) You have to be a team. You have to want to help each other and talk to each other.”
