By Jeff Meder

Journal Sports Writer

SPRINGFIELD — Talan Helget’s single in the top of the eighth inning scored Joey Herzog to help No. 6-seeded Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s upset No. 3-seeded Springfield 4-3 on Tuesday in Section 2A Baseball Tournament action at Riverside Park.

It was the second round of the tournament.

Herzog reached base when he was hit by a pitch thrown by Samuel Rummel in the top of the eighth. He advanced to second on a passed ball and stole third base. Talan Helget then belted a single to right field to score Herzog for the eventual game-winner.

Kade Nachreiner doubled into right-center in the bottom of the eighth but a strikeout ended the game in eight innings.

The two teams split their regular season games. Springfield won handily on April 26, but the Knights won 9-5 on May 2. Springfield won six of its last seven games, while St. Mary’s went 2-5 during the same period.

Both teams played evenly throughout the game. The hits were four apiece, and there was only one error made. St. Mary’s got the hits at the perfect time in order to win.

“We had opportunities for runs in the first three innings,” St. Mary’s head coach Bruce Woitas said. “We got clutch hits when we needed them; it was a team win.”

MacCoy Krick singled for Springfield in the bottom of the second inning. He stole second and he scored on Kade Nachreiner’s single to right field. That gave the Tigers an early 1-0 lead.

The Knights’ Jonathan Petermann hit a single in the top of the sixth inning. Petermann tied the game when he scored on a wild pitch.

Herzog reached on an error. With the bases loaded, Owen Weiss walked which allowed Herzog to score and give them a 2-1 lead. Carson Domeier scored on sacrifice fly by Mark Anderson. That made it 3-1 for the Knights.

Ashtin Johnson earned a leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth inning. Johnson scored on a wild pitch, for a 3-2 score. James Coffland walked. He scored on Kade Nachreiner’s groundout to tie the game at 3-3.

Talan Helget earned the victory. He pitched three innings, gave up no runs on one hit, walked one and struck out three batters. Mark Anderson was the starter for St. Mary’s. He pitched five innings, he gave up three runs on three hits with six strikeouts and seven walks.

Kyle Quesenberry took the loss. He went six innings, he gave up three runs on three hits with four walks and six strikeouts.

Herzog had two runs scored for St. Mary’s. Petermann went 2 for 4 with a run scored. Helget went 2 for 3 with an RBI, Owen Weiss had an RBI on a walk. Mark Anderson also had an RBI.

Nachreiner led Springfield at the plate by going 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Luke Boyle and Krick had Springfield’s other hits in the game.

St. Mary’s will now host No. 7-seeded Martin County West at 5 p.m. on Thursday. Springfield will travel to Madelia at 5 p.m. on Thursday.