Mankato East blanks Eagles

By PAUL DUNLAP

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- It was a big game. Doug Espenson knew it.

Espenson, a junior right-hander, pitched a three-hit shutout Thursday, lifting the fifth-seeded Mankato East baseball team past top-seeded New Ulm 2-0 in Section 2-3A action at Johnson Park.

The Cougars will now travel to face No. 2 seed Marshall Saturday, 7 p.m., in winner's bracket action. The Eagles (19-4) will face the winner of the Mankato West/Litchfield game Saturday, 11 a.m., also in Marshall.

"It was a great defensive game," Eagle coach Jim Senske said. "You won't see a better one at the high school level. In fact, Mankato East's defense just took us right out of every opportunity we had. Espenson pitched well, and our kids pitched OK. You can't win a ballgame when you score zero runs ... pure and simple."

The Eagle defense shone throughout the early innings as third baseman Travis Thorson made a pair of diving stops to keep the game close. The Cougars scored the first run of the game in the second as catcher Pat Landkamer drew a one-out walk, and courtesy runner Erik Walker took second on a wild pitch. Matt Norland then delivered the biggest hit of the game -- a two-out double to center that plated Walker for a 1-0 lead.

As it would turn out, that would be the only run Espenson would need. He gave up a single hit through the first three frames, but didn't allow one thereafter. In fact, he retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced and allowed just one fly-ball out as the Cougars recorded three crucial double plays that quashed rallies.

"Mankato East's pitching is very good, and we knew it was going to be a close ballgame," Senske said. "The game went according to plan, except the plan was for us to score some runs."

East threatened to break open the game in the fourth as two hits, a fielder's choice, and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Craig Spelbrink, who took the loss, would walk in the second and final run of the game, and Senske replaced him with right-hander Ryan Wellmann. Wellmann then got a big ground ball double play to end the inning, and the Cougars didn't have a serious threat again.

"Wellmann has been our strongest guy all year, but the problem is he can't throw every inning of the tournament," Senske said. "He pitched 10 innings last weekend and has a tired arm, and we hoped to get four (innings) out of Spelbrink. Normally, when you give up two runs you should be able to score a couple."

Spelbrink yielded five hits, striking out three and walking three, in his 3 1/3 innings of work. Wellmann gave up two hits and no runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Al Wurtzberger gave the New Ulm faithful a ray of hope as he drew a walk to begin the bottom of the seventh. That's when the third double play came about, and an emotional East team escaped with the win.

Evan Jacobs had two of the three New Ulm hits, with Spelbrink adding a second-inning single. The Eagles now await either the Scarlets or the Dragons.

"I know a little bit about Mankato West, but nothing about Litchfield," Senske said. "Whoever it is is going to have spent some pitching, and we're hoping that (senior left-hander Drew) Waibel can throw for us on Saturday."

MKTO EAST 010 100 0 -- 2 7 0

NEW ULM 000 000 0 -- 0 3 0

WP--Espenson, LP--Spelbrink. 2B--Norland (ME).