Bulldogs Pick up First Win of Season in Last Week's Games

Hampton-Dumont-CAL baseball was able to pick up their first win of the season as part of a 1-3 week overall. The Bulldogs split a double header with the Humboldt Wildcats, losing game one 8-3 and winning game two 4-3 on Monday, June 2, before losing both games of a double header to the Saint Ansgar Saints 11-0 and 7-0 on Saturday, June 7. 

In game one of the double header versus Humboldt on Monday, the Wildcats offense would score runs early to put the game out of reach for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs would score one run in the bottom of the third inning and two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning in the 8-3 loss. Sophomores Carson Helmke and Brody Peters each had an RBI and senior Taylor Mahler led the Bulldogs offense with two hits.  Jaxon Moats was the Bulldogs starting pitcher and he would pitch a complete game, going seven innings and allowing seven runs on 13 hits while striking out three batters. 

The Bulldogs would get their first win of the season in game two of the double header 4-3. The Wildcats would jump out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning but the Bulldogs would respond with one run in the bottom of the second inning and two runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 3-2 lead. The Wildcats would tie the game in the top of the sixth inning and the game would go into extra innings before the Bulldogs would win on a walk off in the bottom of the ninth inning. Senior Dawson Wikert, senior Brody Robertson and sophomore Hunter Rieken each drove in one run. Mahler would lead the Bulldogs with three hits in the game. Robertson started the game, pitching seven and one thirds innings and allowed just three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out eight batters before senior Camden Peil would finish the last one and two thirds innings for the Bulldogs and pick up the win. Head coach of the Bulldogs Mike Lokenvitz discussed the performance from the two pitchers. 

“Both of them pitched well,” said Lokenvitz. “They were effective because they had their off speed pitches working as well as their fastball. Anytime you can keep hitters off balance, you will have a chance to win the game.” 

In game one of the double header versus Saint Ansgar on Saturday, the Bulldogs would lose to the Saints 11-0. The game would end in a 10-run mercy rule after four and a half innings. Wikert would record the only Bulldogs hit. William Vosberg was the Bulldogs starting pitcher and he would pitch two and two-thirds innings and allow nine runs on two hits and eight walks and did not record a strikeout. 

In game two of the double header, the Bulldogs would lose a rain shortened game 7-0. The game would be called after the pitching mound was too wet to pitch on in the bottom of the fifth inning. Vosburg and senior Jaymes Stevens would collect the two Bulldogs hits in the game. Freshman Blaek Burmester was the Bulldogs starting pitcher, and he pitched three and one thirds innings allowing seven runs on seven hits and five walks while striking out two batters. 

The 1-3 week moved the Bulldogs record to 1-10. The Bulldogs will have four games this week (see upcoming schedule) and will try to build momentum after picking up their first win.