Sauk Rapids Offense Held In Check In Close Loss

(KNSI) – Alexandria came from behind for the second time in two games this postseason to nip the Sauk Rapids-Rice Storm, 2-1. Starters Alex Harren and JD Hennen both went the distance, twirling gems. Hennen was just a touch better and he gave the Cardinals time to post single runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

Sauk Rapids opened the scoring in the top of the third inning. Shortstop Terrence Moody reached on an infield single with one out. He advanced to second on a groundout, took third on a wild pitch, and came home courtesy of an RBI single from catcher Jeff Solorz.

Alexandria tied it up on a two-out single from Brock Lerfald in the bottom of the fifth. The ball skipped back through the box and out of the reach of Moody to plate Grady Anderson. He had led off the inning with a walk.

The deciding run was scored by Jaxon Schoenrock. The Cardinals centerfielder called his own number, leading off the bottom half of the sixth with a line-drive blast that carried the wall in right-center.

Both teams are still alive and will be at the Municipal Athletic Complex on Saturday. Alexandria is set to take the field against 1-1 ROCORI. Sauk Rapids will face Little Falls. Both games begin at 11 AM.

ROCORI beat Willmar, 7-5, on Thursday. Little Falls eliminated Detroit Lakes, winning 4-1.

SECTION 8AAAA

The Saint Cloud Crush run is over. They won in the first round Tuesday against Buffalo, 9-5, but lost the next two. Both defeats were close contests. The nine-seed Crush fell 2-0 to the section favorite, St. Michael-Albertville. The Crush went to Brainerd on Thursday to play Bemidji in a neutral site contest. Bemidji won a shootout, 11-8.

Sartell is adapting nicely to moving up a class. The Sabres made easy work of Elk River on Wednesday and followed that up with a 6-4 victory Thursday against Rogers. Sartell was on the road for both games. They’ll look to thrive again in the underdog role next week. Sartell gets STMA on Tuesday. Depending on the result they will be in action Wednesday in the elimination bracket or they’d advance straight to the championship round in Cold Spring Thursday.

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