Mudcats Rally for Win over PBR

Dell Rapids PBR was just one good throw away from knocking off the Dell Rapids Mudcats on Tuesday night, but a throwing error with two outs in the 9th let the tying run score, and eventually led to a 12 inning loss in the District 4B semifinals. 

PBR scored the game’s first run in the 3rd, before the Mudcats took the lead in the bottom of the 4th. Dalton Allen homered to left and put the #1 seed Mudcats up 2-1. That score stood until Conner Spindler singled and drove in a run in the 8th to tie the game. PBR took the lead in the 9th, scoring a run on an error to go up 3-2. 

In the bottom of the 9th, relief pitcher Brayden Pankonen recorded the first two outs quickly before Kris Regas rolled a ground ball to second baseman Zach Puetz, who threw low to first and allowed Regas to reach safely. The Mudcats followed with a single and a hit batter to load the bases. Ty Hoglund then singled to right to tie the game. 

Things remained tied until the 12th inning, when Tanner Solberg hit the leadoff man, then issued an intentional walk. Finally John Speath singled to drive in a run and end the game with a 4-3 Mudcats win. 

While the two starting pitchers did not factor in the result, they were both excellent on Tuesday night. Trey Randel gave up 2 runs on 5 hits with 7 strikeouts for PBR. Dalton Lehnen went 10 innings, and allowed 3 runs on 7 hits with 15 strikeouts. 

The Mudcats move on to Saturday’s district Championship game. PBR will take on the loser of Thursday’s game between Colman and the Hartford-Humboldt Wood Ducks.