VFW Gold wins pair

NEW ULM -- Due to injury, the Mankato VFW baseball team had to forfeit the remainder of its games in the Junior Upper Midwest Classic.

New Ulm VFW Gold, slated to play Mankato in a 6 p.m. matchup Friday night, was given a forfeit win. That win assured VFW Gold for a spot in Sunday's semifinals.

St. Cloud will also receive a forfeit win in today's noon game scheduled in Sleepy Eye.

Earlier in the day, VFW Gold had to overcome Sleepy Eye 11-9.

VFW GOLD 11,

SLEEPY EYE 9

New Ulm scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to turn around a three-run deficit and come away with an 11-9 win.

Brad Zenk was the winning pitcher for New Ulm in relief of starter Tony Moldan. Matt Nachreiner got the save.

Randy Braun was tagged with the loss for Sleepy Eye, now 0-2 in the tournament.

Sleepy Eye scored five runs in the first but New Ulm came back with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Sleepy Eye added a run in the second and two more in the third before New Ulm started their comeback.

Kyle Marti and Kyle Helget each had two hits for New Ulm with Helget collecting two RBI, including the game-winner in the sixth inning.

Darren Haala, Brett Braulick and Riley Jensen each had two hits for Sleepy Eye, with Cody Walter belting an inside-the-park home run.

Sleepy Eye out-hit New Ulm 11-8.

SLEEPY EYE 512 001 0 -- 9 11 4

VFW GOLD 400 205 x -- 11 8 3

WP--Zenk, LP--Braun. S--Nachreiner. HR--Walter (SE).

WILLMAR 7, MANKATO 7 (forfeit)

Willmar won a forfeit over Mankato when Mankato lost a player due to an injury.

Mark Nerland was hit in the right eye by a ball off of his bat in the second inning and was forced to leave the game. Mankato only had nine players at the game and was forced to forfeit.