Ryler Collins earned the win for New Ulm in Game 1, striking out four and allowing no runs on three hits and three walks. Paxton Johnson pitched three innings, striking out two and allowing one run on one hit. At the plate for New Ulm, Collins and Noah Gode each had a hit and an RBI, with Gode adding a run scored. Porter Jensen had a hit and a run scored.

Both sides were retired in order to start the defensive showdown of Game 1. National got two runners on base in the second, but Collins put up two strikeouts in the inning, allowing no runs. Collins drew a walk and Eli Anderson earned a single to threaten for New Ulm in the bottom of the inning, but National similarly got the next two outs without allowing a run. New Ulm finally earned the first score of the game in the third, with Jensen’s single setting up Gode for an RBI single. Levi Hopp singled to advance Gode to second, then Collins had an RBI single of his own, plating Gode for a 2-0 lead.

After a scoreless fourth inning, Mankato responded with a run on a throwing error to cut the lead to 2-1, but a pop out ended the inning with no further damage. Johnson and the New Ulm defense were able to retire the next six batters in order to take home the victory.

Colin McAlpine earned the win in Game 2, striking out two and allowing three unearned runs on two hits and three walks in three innings. At the plate, Levi Hopp was 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Mitchell Hopp was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Gode had two hits and a run scored, and Anderson had a hit, two RBIs and a run scored.

Staff photo by Ari Selvey New Ulm Junior Legion’s Ryler Collins delivers a pitch during a junior legion baseball game against Mankato National Tuesday at Mueller Park.

National started the game with a 3-0 lead after two innings, but New Ulm put up five innings in the third to take the lead, with Mitchell Hopp, Levi Hopp and Johnson all earning RBIs and Anderson earning two. Neither team scored in the fourth, but New Ulm added to its lead in the fifth, with Starke singling to drive home Trevon Thordson and McAlpine putting an error into play to score Evan Starke for a 7-3 lead. Mankato kept the pressure on, scoring three in the bottom of the inning to make it a 7-6 game, but Anderson came in to pitch the final two innings, allowing just one baserunner on a walk and striking out three to seal the game.

New Ulm (4-1) plays Owatonna in the Junior Upper Midwest Classic Thursday at 8 p.m. at Johnson Park.