Paxton Johnson took the loss in Game 1, striking out four and allowing five runs, four earned, on four hits in four innings. Conlin McAlpine pitched three innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits. At the plate for New Ulm, Trevan Thordson was 2 for 3, while Conlin McAlpine had a hit and an RBI. Mitchell Hopp had a hit and a run scored.

New Ulm got off to a strong start in the first game, putting the first run on the board as Hopp drew a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a Ryler Collins. Finally, Hopp came on a wild pitch to make it 1-0 in the first inning.

Hopkins responded quickly, scoring two runs on one hit and two walks in the second inning to take a 2-1 lead. Hopkins added another run in the third, then put together a six-run fifth inning, collecting seven hits in the frame. New Ulm got one back in the bottom of the fifth, with McAlpine putting an error into play to score Evan Starke, but the junior Gold were unable to muster another run as Hopkins took the first game 9-2.

Hopp earned the win for New Ulm in Game 2, striking out six and allowing two runs on four hits in 4 2/3 innings. Parker Ranweiler made the start, striking out one and allowing one hit in 2 1/3 innings. At the plate, Owen Castleman was 3 for 5 with two runs scored, while Collins was 2 for 4 with four RBIs. Thordson had two hits and three runs scored, and Hopp was 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Staff photo by Ari Selvey The New Ulm Junior Legion Legion Gold’s Mitchell Hopp high-fives teammate Parker Ranweiler (17) after scoring a run during a junior legion baseball game against Hopkins Tuesday at Mueller Park.

New Ulm got back to form quickly in Game 2, putting up six runs in the first inning. A single by Collins drove home the first run, then Ranweiler hit a two-run single for a 3-0 lead. Two more runs came home on a single by Stueber for a 5-0 advantage.

Collins added two more RBIs in the second inning with a single that scored Thordson and Hopp. A groundout by Miles Castleman plated Thordson for an 8-0 lead in the fourth, then, in the sixth inning, a single by McAlpine and a ground out by Noah Gode made it a 10-0 game. Hopkins managed two runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend the game, but New Ulm got those runs right back in the top of the seventh, with Hopp earning an RBI on a sacrifice fly and Collins putting an error into play to score Owen Castleman. This time, New Ulm didn’t allow a run in the bottom of the inning, securing the 10-run win.

New Ulm (17-6) plays at Excelsior on Thursday.