Clinton rallies past Mudhens in 9th
The Clinton Coyotes rallied for five runs in the bottom of the ninth, all with just one hit, and went on to defeat the Minneota Mudhens 8-7 on a walk-off bases on balls to Sam Adelman Sunday in Clinton.
Minneota, which had its first two scheduled games cancelled due to inclement weather and a short-handed team, took a 7-3 lead into the ninth inning behind eight solid innings on the mound by Danny Hennen.
Minneota scored three times in the second inning highlighted by a two-run single by Brock Buysse. The Mudhens never trailed again until Clinton's comeback in the ninth.
The Coyotes drew consecutive walks to start the ninth inning before Austin DeVlaeminck relieved and got two quick outs before running into control problems and giving up one hit, three walks, a hit batsman, and a wild pitch on a strikeout in which the runner reached base.
"We knew pitching was going to be an issue today, as after Danny, we really didn't have our regular guys able to be at the game and help throw," said Mudhens player/manager Tyson Sonnenburg. "
The Mudhens were without hurlers Jacob Hennen and Zach Nuy, as well as one of their top players in Austin Buysse.
"It was a heartbreaking loss to start the year as we felt we had the game won, but just couldn't get that final out."
Sam Adelman, the winning pitcher in relief for Clinton, drew a bases-loaded walk to end the game.
Peyton Gillund and Brock Buysse had three hits apiece for the Mudhens, who outhit Clinton 11-8. Alex Pohlen had two hits and Sonnenburg, Hennen and Tate Walerius each had one hit.
The Mudhens left 14 runners on base.
Clinton 8, Minneota 7
Minneota...............................030 011 020 - 7 11 3
Clinton..................................002 010 005 - 8 8 3
Minneota Mudhens hitting: Austin DeVlaeminck 0-for-5, 2 runs; Alex Pohlen 2-for-4, run, bb; Tyson Sonnenburg 1-for-5; Danny Hennen 1-for-5; Ben Skorczewski 0-for-4, bb; AJ Myhre 0-for-4, bb, run; Peyton Gillund 3-for-5, run; Tate Walerius 1-for-4, bb, run; Brock Buysse 3-for-5, bb
Minneota Mudhens pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so): Danny Hennen 8-5-3-0-4-3, AJ Myhre 0-0-2-2-2-0, Austin DeVlaeminck (L) 2/3-1-3-3-3-1