Forgive Joe Huffman for running out of gas three batters into the seventh inning of Thursday’s 6-2 Austin road win over Rochester John Marshall.

Friday, April 28, 2000

Forgive Joe Huffman for running out of gas three batters into the seventh inning of Thursday’s 6-2 Austin road win over Rochester John Marshall.

Huffman, who took a four hitter into the seventh before allowing two hits and a walk, only had the game of a lifetime.

The senior hurler got the win, tripled and scored in the second, hit a solo home run to left in the third, and capped the scoring with a run-scoring single in the sixth.

"He had an awfully good game," Austin coach Jerry Miller said. "He just ran out of gas there in the end."

Huffman’s heroics were complemented by a two-run home run off the bat of his battery mate, catcher Jon Holtorff, in the second inning. Huffman followed with his triple and Jamie Morrison plated him with a single in a four-run Austin second.

Morrison finished with three hits as Austin hit three JM pitchers hard.

"At this stage of the game," Miller said, "it’s a really big win."

Austin improved to 6-3 overall and in the Big Nine. JM, which was playing just its third game, fell to 2-1. Austin is chasing Mayo, Winona and Mankato East – all teams with one loss entering play Thursday. Austin hosts Lakeville on Saturday at 1 p.m.