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  • After stepping on second to force Faribault's Evan Jensen (sliding), Mankato East shortstop Jordan Grams successfully completed a double play in the first inning of a Big Nine Conference game at Wolverton Field. John Cross

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May 22, 2012

Faribault tops Mankato East in Big Nine baseball

By Jim Rueda Free Press Sports Editor

MANKATO — If Monday’s Big Nine Conference baseball game between Mankato East and Faribault was a tune-up for Saturday’s playoffs, it would seem the Falcons are noticeably more ready than the Cougars.

Faribault received a solid five-hit pitching performance from sophomore right-hander Nate Emge while the East defense committed three errors and allowed two unearned runs. The result was a 6-3 regular-season ending win for the Falcons.

“We couldn’t get the hits at the opportune times,” East coach Dan Quame said. “We were pressing at the plate. Everybody was trying to do too much.

“And then our defense let us down, too. We’re not the kind of team that can afford to play sloppy defense and miss opportunities on offense and still win games.”

Much of East’s offensive woes were due to Emge. He had an over-the-top curve that kept painting the outside corner and kept the Cougars’ batters lunging at the ball.

“I spotted the curve pretty well today,” Emge said. “I had good location with my fastball, too. I’ve been waiting for my first win all season and I finally got it.”

The Falcons rallied for two runs in the top of the first to take a lead they never relinquished. After loading the bases with three straight singles, Evan Jensen was hit by a pitch from East starter Collin Risting to drive in a run. The second run scored on a 4-6-3 double play.

Faribault made it 3-0 in the second on Aric Hallet’s RBI single. The Falcons upped their lead to 4-0 in the fourth with the help of a dropped fly ball in the outfield and moved ahead 5-0 in the fifth on two infield errors and Brandon Kettering’s RBI single.

Risting left the game after the fifth, allowing three earned runs on seven hits. He took the loss.

East battled back with solo runs in each of the last three innings. A run-scoring single by Brandon Kowalski, an RBI-groundout by Tyler Fitzpatrick and a sacrifice fly by Jordan Grams accounted for the East runs.

Nobody had more than one hit for East but leadoff batter Kowalski singled and walked twice. Pat Rohlfing and Drew Quame each smacked doubles and Pat Rohlfing belted a triple.

Jordan Foix closed out the game for the Cougars, allowing one run on two hits over the final two innings. Austin Houge finished up for Faribault.

East ends the regular season at 4-16 overall and 4-14 in the Big Nine. The Cougars open the Section 2AAA playoffs with a 1 p.m. game Saturday against Chaska in Eden Prairie. The winner takes on Eden Prairie at 3:30 p.m.

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