The Hayfield/Austin Athletics took back everything they felt like they had lost, scoring in six of nine innings to erase Rochester's comeback with a 12-6 series-clinching win Monday night at Marcusen Park.

The A's (13-19) scored at least one run off four of five Rochester Blues pitchers, including seven off starter Jeremy Cordie in taking the Twin Rivers League Zumbro Division semifinal series 2-1. Hayfield/Austin automatically advances into Region 4C, with Wednesday's division final against Dodge Center determining seeding and draft order.

The A's are guaranteed at least three more games in the postseason as the regional tournament is a double-elimination format. Hayfield/Austin plays at Dodge Center Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

"Everyone's picked their game up," said A's player/coach Troy Holtz. "We looked pretty good tonight."

The Athletics pieced together 11 hits and nine walks to score 12 times off the top-seeded Blues' staff. Rochester (17-13) lost twice in the division semifinal series to A's starter Jon Severson, who threw 8 1/3 innings in Monday's winner-take-all contest.

"I just wanted to hit spots because I wasn't going to throw it by anybody," Severson said after a 140-pitch outing. "They're just a really lethal team, I just locked in a little more."

Severson scattered 11 hits and seven walks well enough to force Rochester to strand 14 runners on base. Luke Fischer inherited a bases-loaded situation with one out in the ninth, but he struck out the first batter and enduced a weak pop-up to end the game.

Rochester, despite trailing the whole way, showed signs of simulating Saturday's comeback win over the A's. Severson surrendered three runs in each of the first and fourth innings, and Hayfield/Austin's lead slipped from 9-3 to 9-6.

"I was on watch after about the fourth inning, if anyone got to second base I was done," Severson said. "I just got more command of my pitches, and my change-up started working a lot more."

On the offensive

The Blues did not score again after the fourth inning, while Hayfield/Austin continued to tally runs. The A's scored solo runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings to run their lead to a more comfortable 12-6 margin.

"Our bats have been hot in the playoffs," Severson said, "and our field has overall been pretty good."

Lee Aadahl and Nick Bowe each had three hits for the A's offense, driving in a combined five runs with clutch two-out singles in both the first and second innings. Eric Schmeling and Matt Juncker also plated two runs apiece.

Aadahl ripped a single down the third-base line with two outs and runners on the corners in the first inning, and Bowe followed with a two-run single to right to push across the A's fourth run.

After a single and two walks loaded the bases in the second, Cordie was pulled from the mound in favor of Tim Welke. Welke silenced the A's for five-plus innings in Rochester's comeback win Saturday, but the first four hitters he faced Tuesday were up to the challenge.

Schmeling took a full-count walk, Juncker lifted a sacrifice fly to right, and Aadahl and Bowe came up with RBI-singles to right for an 8-3 A's lead. Jamie Beck, although 0-1 on the final scoresheet, contributed successful sacrifice bunts to start both rallies.

Jamie Morrison led off the second and third innings with singles and scored both times. Adam Linbo chased him home with a triple in the third.

Aadahl's leadoff single in the eighth led to the A's final run. Al Dahlen was hit by a pitch while squaring around to fake a bunt, and he later got caught in a rundown between first and second to allow Aadahl to score.

Linescore:

Hayf/Aus

441 010 110 -- 12 11 4

Rochester

300 300 000 --

6 11 1

Jon Severson, Luke Fischer (9) and Lee Aadahl; Jeremy Cordie, Tim Welke (2), Mark Clarey (4), Jim Strain (8), Adam Sinkink (9) and Josh Matti. WP--Severson. LP--Cordie. 3B--H/A: Linbo, Aadahl.

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