Hi-Liners drop two close games to Spartans

It was a good old fashioned pitchers duel. Only two runs and seven hits between the two teams with Fargo North scoring both runs in a 2-0 win over Valley City in game one of a Eastern Dakota Conference baseball doubleheader Friday night at Charlie Brown Memorial Field. The Spartans scored four runs in the top of the fifth to win 5-2 in game 2.

Fargo North 2, Valley City 0

The Spartans scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning and two North pitchers held Valley City to just four hits in the 2-0 win.

Ethan Miller and Braxton Jorissen held the Spartans to no hits through the first five innings. Miller allowed just two base runners in his four innings of work. He struck out two but hit two batters. At one point, Miller retired eight straight North batters. Jorissen picked up where Miller left off by retiring the side on order in the top of the fifth. Jorissen allowed three hits and two earned runs in three innings of work. He walked one and struckout two.

Kaden Kvidera and Aaron Breitbach matched Miller and Jorissen pitch for pitch. The Spartan combo allowed just four singles to Hi-Liner batters and combined for four walks and 13 strikeouts. Kvidera struck out 11 in six innings of work to get the win. He walked Adam Bitz to start the seventh but Breitbach got Robert Fischer to hit into a fielder's choice and struckout Miller and Gavin Gerhardt to end the game.

The Spartans scored their two runs without getting a ball out of the infield in the top of the sixth. Joey Bjorkman walked to start the inning. He would advance to second on a passed ball. Connor Holm's bunt down the third base line was fielded by the pitcher Jorissen. His throw was late getting Holm and was off the mark. The resulting error moved Holm to second and pinch runner Nolan Astrip scored to make it 1-0 North.

Danny Boutain bunted down the third base line. Gerhardt's throw was wide of the bag and went into foul territory. Holm scored and Boutain reached second on the error then advanced to third on a passed ball. Will Bachman reached on a single that just got by third baseman Gerhardt. Boutain was caught in a run down between third and home. The Hi-Liners executed the rundown perfectly and Boutain was tagged out by shortstop Miller. Bachman, hustling all the way, reached third. After Breitbach was hit by a pitch, he stole second, on the play, catcher Joe Cummings threw behind the runner at third and got Bachman napping. Jorissen got Kvidera to ground out to end the threat.

The Hi-Liners had a two out threat in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Devyn Thornton singled to center. Kai Kringlie singled to center to move Thornton to second. But Max Mehus would strike out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh with North still up 2-0, the Hi-Liners rally came up short and the Spartans picked up a big conference win. The two teams were part of a four way tie for second in the conference standings.

Miller, Thornton, Kringlie and Mehus had the hits for Valley City.

Game 2: Fargo North 5, Valley City 2

North scored four runs in the top of the fifth to pull out a 5-2 win in the nightcap.

The Spartans scored first on a double by Kaden Kvidera in the top of the first with two outs.

Valley City took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the first. Ethan Miller led off with a single, moved to second on Gavin Gerhardt's sacrifice bunt then got to third on Kvidera's error. With two outs, Joe Cummings singled to left to score Miller to tie the game at 1. Cummings moved to second on a wild pitch then scored on Thornton's single to make it 2-1 Hi-Liners.

It would stay that way until the fifth. Hi-Liner starting pitcher Carver Pederson retired seven straight Spartans and nine of ten heading into the fifth inning.

With one out and two on, Danny Boutain singled to left, scoring Brady Manly. When the ball got by left fielder Kai Kringlie, Own Branson scored to give the Spartans the 3-2 lead. Bachman doubled in Boutain to make it 4-2. Pinch runner Sam Fritel advanced to third on a passed ball then scored on Breitbach's sacrifice fly.

The Hi-Liners would get two runners on in the bottom of the fifth, but could not get anyone home.

With the two losses, Valley City falls to 3-4 in the Eastern Dakota Conference and 5-6 overall.