The Rainy River Community College baseball team advanced to today’s Minnesota College Athletic Conference playoffs after winning Wednesday night’s play-in game to earn the sixth and final playoff spot in the Northern Division.
The Voyageurs rallied for 7 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat Fond du Lac, 13-7, in Cloquet.
“We’re really excited to get a playoff game,” said RRCC head coach Josh Koenig, who credited the Voyageurs for overcoming adversity in the play-in contest after having given up the lead. “It’s a brand new season.”
Chandler Ticknor pitched the final three innings in relief to record the victory, allowing 2 runs, one earned, on 3 hits with a walk while striking out three.
RRCC starting pitcher Josh McInnes worked the first four innings and gave up 5 runs, four earned, on 7 hits with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts.
Fond du Lac had three pitchers appear in the sixth inning when the Voyageurs scored seven times.
Starter Bryce Karppinen recorded the loss pitching 5 2/3 innings, giving up all 13 runs, 10 earned, on 5 hits with 8 walks while striking out five. Reliever Joe Broneak walked all three batters he faced in the sixth, before Abraham Young recorded the inning’s final out.
RRCC designated hitter Bryn Redhead doubled and drove in a pair of runs, while four other Voyageurs singled.
At the plate, Karppinen doubled and triple with 3 RBI, while Richard Jubbie added 3 hits for the Thunder.
The Voyageurs had the advantage running the base paths and ended up with 6 stolen bases, including a pair of stolen bases by courtesy runner Brett Orpin. Fond du Lac was unsuccessful in all three of its stolen-base attempts.
RRCC faces Itasca, the MCAC North’s top seed, in a best-of-three series in Grand Rapids starting at 1 p.m. today. The series winner advances to next week’s Region Tournament in St. Cloud.
FdL 1-3-0 1-1-0 1 — 7 10 3
RRCC 3-0-2 1-0-7 X — 13 5 2
WP—Chandler Ticknor;
LP—Bryce Karppinen
