Brewers down Hounds 8-7

Published 11:40 pm Friday, June 22, 2012

Austin Greyhounds second baseman John Frein can't hold on to the ball as Forest Lake's Brent Kolbow steals second in the bottom of the first inning of their Spamtown Challenge game Friday night at Marcusen Park. -- Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

The Austin Greyhounds made up a six-run deficit and then watched a one-run lead slip away as they lost to Forest Lake 8-7 in the Spamtown Challenge opener for both teams Friday in Marcusen Park.

The Brewers (7-4 overall) won the game in the bottom of the eighth when two consecutive runners reached base on errors with one out and Mike Schultz blasted a walk-off two-run double to deep center field.

“This was a tough loss,” Austin manager John Frein said. “It was a fun game and we came back. I thought we had it, but they deserved it. It’s kind of a bummer.”

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Frein gave the Hounds (8-9 overall) their first lead of the night when he perfectly executed a safety squeeze by laying down a bunt to score a run in the top of the eighth. The Hounds ended up with the bases loaded with no outs after going up 8-7 but Tyler Leopold lined out and Nate Johnson and Matt Cano struck out to end the threat.

Cano tied the game up at 6-6 with a two-run double down the right field line with one out in the top of the seventh.

Nate Johnson swings on a pitch during his first inning at-bat against Forest Lake in the first night of the Spamtown Challenge Friday at Marcusen Park.

Austin had trailed 6-0, but it was able to force extra innings.

“We played okay and we showed promise and patience at the plate,” Frein said.

The Hounds will play Appleton at 4 p.m. and Cold Spring at 6 p.m. Saturday. To advance to Sunday’s final round, the Hounds will have to win both of those games and win a tie-breaker, which comes down to run differential.

Hounds 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 1 — 7 12 4

Forest Lake 1 3 0 2 0 0 0 2 — 8 12 0

Hounds pitching: Zach Schara, 3 IP, 8 H, 1 BB, 4 ER, 1 K, HP; Aaron Klatt (L), 5 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 4 K, 1 HBP

Hounds hitting: Andy Swank, 0-for-2, RBI, R, 2 BBs; Tyler Leopold, 1-for-5, RBI, R; Matt Cano, 2-for-5, double, 2 RBIs; Matt Raso, 1-for-4; Nels Nelson, 2-for-4, R; Logan Spitzack, 3-for-4, double, RBI, 2 R; Joe Kroc, 1-for-2, R, 2 BBs; John Frein, 2-for-3, 2 RBIs, R, BB