Jon Severson and Lee Aadahl both overcame one bad inning while getting plenty of run-support as the Hayfield/Austin Athletics swept a Twin Rivers League doubleheader from Lake City Sunday afternoon at Marcusen Park.

Severson, a sophomore-to-be at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, struck out five in the seven-inning opener, a 6-4 A's victory. Aadahl, a second-year student at Riverland Community College, struck out four in the 8-4 nightcap.

The Class C Athletics (4-9, 4-5) have won three in a row in league action, and host the Rochester Roadrunners tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Marcusen.

"We made both games close, it looked like we were going to give 'em away just like we'd done before," said A's player/coach Troy Holtz. "We made some nice plays to get out of the first game with a win, but the second game wasn't as close."

Every Hayfield/Austin batter had a hit in the first game, including extra-base knocks by Jamie Morrison and Justin Oakland. The Athletics took a 6-0 lead after three innings but gave four back to Lake City in the latter half of the game. Lake City scored three unearned runs in the top of the fifth and benefitted from Severson's only walks for another run in the seventh.

"We booted a bunch of balls in the fifth," Holtz said. "Jonny walked a couple guys, so we made it close with that and the poor fielding."

Of Hayfield/Austin's nine losses this season, seven have been by one run and six have come in the opposition's last at-bat. Lake City did not threaten to repeat that circumstance in the second game, playing as the home team in the nightcap.

The A's led 6-1 before Lake City scored three times in the bottom of the fourth. Aadahl settled down to silence the Lake City bats for the remainder, and the A's added solo runs in the sixth and seventh innings.

"Those runs in the sixth and seventh really put some separation in that game," Holtz said. "That really put the distance on them."

Oakland and Jamie Pratt each went 2-for-2 to lead the Hayfield/Austin hitters. Oakland added a triple to his tally, while catcher Matt Juncker chipped in with a double.

The Athletics, in addition to tonight's league game, play Wednesday night in the first round of the Cannon Falls Tournament. The A's open with Rosemount at 7:30 p.m.

Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at :mailto:sports@austindailyherald.com.

Linescores:

Lake City0000301--465

Hayf/Aus213000x--694

Banitt and Bendickson; Severson and Aadahl. WP--Severson.

Hayf/Aus1023011--883

Lake City0013000--455

Aadahl and Juncker; Sutter, Tepley (5) and Bendickson. WP--Aadahl.