Two-out hitting gives L.M. win

Published 9:09 am Wednesday, July 2, 2008

It was another late-inning comeback for the Lake Mills baseball team Tuesday night in a 7-3 win over Woden-Crystal Lake-Titonka.

The Bulldogs (19-13, 9-5) needed another two-run sixth inning to overcome the Tigers, a night after doing the same against Forest City in a 9-6 win.

Lake Mills trailed 3-2 entering the sixth and got two runs with two outs to take the lead 4-3 and added three insurance runs in the seventh.

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Starting pitcher Levi Dahle knocked in two runs in the sixth with a single that scored Nolan Zobel and Steve Hengesteg.

That was just the beginning for the Bulldogs and their two-out hitting.

In the seventh Lake Mills added three more runs, all coming with two outs.

“We had three hits in the seventh inning with two outs,” Bulldogs head coach Jason Blaser said. “It’s nice to see them concentrate.”

Prior to the last two innings Lake Mills had just four hits, but Dahle kept his team in the game through the first five innings.

Blaser said Dahle didn’t have his best stuff, but he scattered six hits and allowed three runs to pick up the win.

“Earlier on he threw well,” Blaser said. “In the middle of the game he left some pitches up and got behind guys, but he did enough to limit the damage.”

Brad Midlang came on in relief and allowed one hit in the final two innings.

“Midlang threw great in two innings,” Blaser said. “Probably threw the best he has this year.”

The Bulldogs will have plenty of arms to choose from when the playoffs begin Saturday. Blaser said Zobel will likely start against Central Springs in Manly, Iowa for the district five playoffs.

Lake Mills 7, Woden-Crystal Lake-Titonka 3

Lake Mills – 002 002 3 – 7 8 1

Woden-Crystal Lake- Titonka – 101 010 0 – 3 8 5

WP – Levi Dahle 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 K, 2 BB