Staff photo by Travis Rosenau New Ulm Jr. Legion Gold’s Alex Portner starts what ends up being a double play during the first inning of a Junior Upper Midwest Classic baseball game against Mankato East (American) on Thursday night at Johnson Park.

By Jim Bastian

sports@nujournal.com

NEW ULM — Owen Stenzel scattered two hits and struck out three while Mankato American (East) scored five runs in the top of the fifth and added two in the sixth to down the New Ulm Junior Legion Gold 7-1 Thursday night in the Junior Upper Midwest Classic.

Stenzel’s only run allowed was unearned in the fourth and came off of a Ryan Rathmann sacrifice fly.

Tanner Backer took the loss for New Ulm, going 4 2/3 innings and allowing five runs. He struck out seven.

Avery Stubbs and Eli Edberg each had two hits for American, who out-hit New Ulm 7-2.

American erased a 1-0 lead in the fifth with five runs. Doubles from Kolton Kolbinger and Braxton Wojcik and three walks led to the big inning.

American added two more runs in the sixth on a single and ensuing outfield error.

New Ulm plays Harrisburg, South Dakota at 7 p.m. in another JUMC game Friday night at Johnson Park.