Hancock hands Mudhens third straight loss, 6-2

After a torrid start to the season, the Minneota Mudhens have hit a dry spell and fell to the Hancock Orphans 6-2 Wednesday night for their third straight loss.
Three regulars were missing from the Mudhens' lineup.
"We've been playing pretty short-handed lately," said player/manager Tyson Sonnenburg. "It was a tough loss for us as we couldn't get the bats going when we needed to and we left a lot of runners on base."
The Mudhens, who dropped to 2-3 in league play and 7-4 overall, stranded 11 runners in the game. After scoring both of their runs in the ninth inning, Minneota had the bases loaded with one out, but couldn't push any more runs across.
Derrick Foss pitched eight strong innings for the win for the Orphans. He allowed only four hits, while walking five and striking out four. He left for a reliever with no outs in the ninth.
Danny Hennen absorbed the loss despite allowing only one earned run over seven innings. He walked one and struck out four.
"Danny did a nice job pitching," said Sonnenburg. "He kept us in the game."
Alex Pohlen went 2-for-3 for the Mudhens, including a double. Brock Buysse and Brad Liebfried had the other hits.
The Mudhens tried to rally back in the ninth inning. Hennen reached on an error leading off the inning. Tate Walerius then drew a walk before Liebfried single in the first run. Brock Buysse pinch-hit and singled in another run and Beau Buysse was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. But the rally ended there.
"We know we probably won't be one of the top seeds like we have been the past few years," Sonnenburg noted. "But that's okay. We know what we're capable of and once out full squad is there I think this team will be one that other teams won't want to face in the playoffs."

Wednesday, July 15
Hancock 6, Minneota 2

Hancock.............................000 013 011 - 6 16 2
Minneota............................000 000 002 - 2 4 3
Minneota hitting leaders: Alex Pohlen 2-for-3; Brock Buysse 1-for-1, rbi; Brad Liebfried 1-for-4, rbi
SB-Sam Buysse, Pohlen. BB-Pohlen, Walerius, Austin DeVlaeminck 2, Beau Buysse. HBP-DeVlaeminck.
Minneota pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so): Danny Hennen (L) 7-14-4-1-1-4, Zach Nuy 2-2-2-2-2-2