Baseball: Voyageurs’ season ends in playoffs vs. Itasca

Reece Lanier picked up the loss pitching all six innings, allowing the 5 runs, four earned, on 8 hits with a walk and a pair of hit batters while striking out six.

“Reece pitched well in that first game,” said RRCC head coach Josh Koenig. “We didn’t have some key hits when we needed them.”

Itasca’s winning pitcher, Justin Krie, pitched a complete game.

Krie gave up 2 earned runs on 5 hits with a walk and a hit batter while striking out 11 batters.

Chandler Ticknor led RRCC with 2 singles.

Four Itasca players had doubles, including T.J. Erickson, who ended up with a pair of hits.

Itasca 11, RRCC 0,

5 innings

Ticknor accounted for the Voyageurs’ only hit when Itasca won game two, 11-0, in five innings.

Winning pitcher Tyler Post faced only 17 batters in five innings as he also gave up a walk while striking out seven.

“Their pitcher just pitched outstanding,” Koenig said.

Ty Paddock went 2 1/3 innings to record the loss, allowing 9 runs, four earned, on 6 hits with 2 walks and hitting a pair of batters while striking out one.

Josh McInnes pitched the final 2 2/3 innings in relief, giving up 2 earned runs on 2 hits with a walk and 2 strikeouts.

Erickson led Itasca with 3 singles, while three others had a double apiece.

Itasca advances to the Region 13 Tournament that begins Thursday at St. Cloud.

The Voyageurs, who tied for sixth place in the MCAC Northern Division at 3-9 and then won a play-in game last Wednesday against Fond du Lac to face the top-seeded Itasca in the playoffs, ended the season 11-30 overall.

Of the 14 players on RRCC’s roster, only two, outfielder Jamall Hudson and outfielder/catcher Brett Oprin, have used up their sophomore year of eligibility and won’t be able to return next season.

Koenig said he expects at least 10 of the 12 freshmen on this year’s roster will be back next season.

He said the biggest area of focus in recruiting new players for next season will be in getting more pitching depth.