That clean play by the Lakers proved to be the difference maker against the Hawley Hawks as the Lakers pulled out a 6-4 win in the first round of state action at Barney Tadsen Field.

The Hawks ended up outhitting Hanska 8-5, but their five errors, all coming from different fielders, proved costly.

The Lakers continue their season with the win and will play in the second round of the state tournament at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, in Brownton against the Pierz Brewers.21

Hawley took the lead right away in the first off Hanska starting lefty Aaron Portner, scoring two runs on four hits. Teague Spillum’s ground-ball single ended up scoring both runs for the Hawks.

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Hanska Lakers’ Sam Knowles is greeted at home by his brother Chris Knowles (7) after scoring a run in a Class C Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament game against the Hawley Hawks Saturday at Barney Tadsen Field in Brownton.

The Lakers got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Tanner Olson doubled to center to bring home Chris Knowles, who walked with two outs and stole second during Olson’s at-bat.

The Lakers took their first lead of the day in the bottom of the fourth. Sam Knowles, who reached on a leadoff error, scored on another error to make it 2-2 before Derek Wilfahrt scored on a passed ball for a 3-2 Lakers lead.

In the fifth, the Lakers added to their lead when Sam Knowles singled home Jake Finstad, who led off with a single. The Hawks tied it at 4-all in the sixth on an RBI triple from Zach Taft and a wild pitch. The triple ended Portner’s day on the mound and brought in Marshall draftee Mitchell Bouwman, who struck out Thomas Slette for the second out of the inning but threw a wild pitch to Mason Klevgaard to tie the game.

The Lakers got the lead back in the bottom of the sixth when a sac fly off the bat of Finstad scored Wilfahrt. The Lakers added an insurance run in the seventh when Olson took a bases-loaded walk to scored Brock Wellmann.

Bouwman walked two to begin the eighth, but he forced back-to-back pop-ups and struck out Mason Klevgaard to escape trouble. The Hawks got another runner on in the ninth when Oakley Dubord walked with one out, but Bouwman struck out Gavin Klevgaard and got Spillum to ground out to end the game.

Portner pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and a walk for four earned runs while striking out two. Bouwman ended up getting the win in 3 2/3 innings of work, allowing just one hit and three walks while striking out five.

Gavin Klevgard pitched four innings for the Hawks in the no decision, allowing three runs, one earned, on two hits and six walks while striking out four. Skylar Timmer took the loss in three innings of relief, allowing three hits and four walks for three earned runs while striking out two. Ethan Ibach pitched a 1-2-3 eighth in relief.

Olson led the Lakers at the plate, going 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two walks, while Sam Knowles was 2 for 5 with an RBI. Chris Knowles and Kevin Larson each drew three walks.

Eight of Hawley’s starters collected a hit apiece, with Taft’s triple leading the way and Dubord adding a double.