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Edina comes back to top New Ulm Legion Gold

File photo by Travis Rosenau New Ulm Legion Gold’s Aaron Portner watches his double to center field in Thursday’s state legion game against Cold Spring in Cold Spring.

COLD SPRING — Despite scoring a pair of runs in the first inning for an early lead, New Ulm Legion Gold couldn’t keep its offense going all game as Edina came back to grab a 5-3 win in both squad’s third game of the 2019 DI Minnesota State American Legion Baseball Tournament.

The loss drops Gold to the loser’s bracket, where they will meet Buffalo at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Cold Spring. Edina now meets Excelsior in a semifinals game at 6 p.m. Saturday evening in Cold Spring.

Gold struck right away for a pair of runs and a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, getting RBI singles from Braden Zimmerman and Chris Knowles to put early pressure on 6-foot-4 Edina starter Drew Bishop.

Edina took a pair of back-to-back walks off of Gold starter Jace Marotz before Gold turned a much-needed double play to get runners out at second and first. A two-out double to right off the bat of Jonathan Bunce scored a run for Edina right after, however, cutting Gold’s lead to 2-1 after one inning.

Gold’s lead didn’t last much longer after a four-run bottom of the second saw Edina surge ahead to a 5-2 lead. After a bases-loaded walk by Matthew Enck tied things at 2-2, Teddy Giefer came in from the bullpen in relief of Marotz. Lucas Fleming then drove in three on a double to left to put Edina ahead by three.

Gold started the fifth inning off nicely with a pair of baserunners after Josh Seidl walked and Hunter Ranweiler singled to advance Seidl to second. Zimmerman then reached on a fielder’s choice after a groundball to Bishop was thrown to third for the force and first out.

Knowles then hit a sharp single to second to bring in Ranweiler and shave Edina’s lead to 5-3. Back-to-back outs ended Gold’s fifth-inning threat with a solo run, however.

After a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth, Gold had one last chance to tie it or take the lead in the top of the seventh. Although a single to center field by Seidl started the inning, three consecutive outs followed for Gold to end the game.

Bishop got the complete-game win, giving up three earned runs on eight hits and three walks. He stuck out five.

Marotz took the loss for Gold in 1 2/3 innings of work, being charged with all five runs on four hits and three walks. Giefer gave up four hits and a walk while striking out one in 4 1/3 innings of relief.

Ranweiler was 2 for 4 with a run scored and a double, while Knowles was 2 for 4 with a pair of RBIs. Teagan Kamm also doubled for Gold.

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