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Tigers unable to score runs vs. Jaguars in Section 2A semifinals

TRUMAN — Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman scored three times in the bottom of the fifth inning en route to defeating Springfield 4-1 in the Section 2A baseball playoffs on Thursday.

The loss sends Springfield to the elimination bracket, where it will play Cleveland on 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at Franklin Rogers Park in Mankato.

Branden Flock took the loss for the Tigers. He went 4 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on two hits. He struck out six and walked five.

Flock also had three of Springfield’s hits four hits, going 3 for 4. Decker Scheffler picked up Springfield’s only other hit.

Derek Schoen went six innings, but was removed in the seventh with the bases loaded. Springfield’s Jevan Richert was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring home Cole Christensen, but Ethan Hurn got Flock to fly out to right for the second out and Scheffler to fly out to the shortstop to end the game.

The defending state champion Tigers now need five-straight wins to get back to the state tournament. It won’t be easy, but coach Bob Fink knows it’s possible.

“I honestly believe these kids are excited to try to win five games in a row,” Fink said. “And to be honest with you, I’m confident they can do it. These guys have been champions their whole life, and if it doesn’t happen, that’s OK too because I know they’re going to fight for it.”

Schoen allowed four hits in six innings. He walked four and struck out five in the win. He was hit by three Flock pitches and scored a run.

The Jaguars scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first when Zach Wolter doubled to bring in James Shrunk with one out. With runners on second and third, Flock was able to work his way out of the early jam, recording back-to-back strikeouts.

“I thought he competed hard and he got himself out of some difficult situations that were not his fault, he was a bulldog on the mound and I’m very proud of him,” Fink said.

Flock stranded three runners in the third inning, but the Tigers were unable to get any run support for him. In the bottom of the fifth, the Jaguars scored three times thanks to some errors by the Tigers. The big hit came when Carter Wille doubled to score Zach Johns to make it 4-0.

The Jaguars meet No. 5 seed Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City at 11 a.m. on Saturday for the right to advance to the Section 2A title game.

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