Greyhounds nipped by Jordan

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, June 4, 2003

The Austin Greyhounds had Jordan right where they wanted them -- behind by one with two outs in the bottom of the 14th. But the Brewers got out from under that rock and scored two runs to overtake the 'Hounds 3-2 Tuesday night at the Mini-Met in Jordan.

Austin relief pitcher Tate Cummins gave the ninth-ranked Greyhounds a 4-3 lead with a two-out single in the top of the 14th inning and got two outs on the mound with Jordan cleanup hitter Paul Buss coming to the plate. Usually an uncertain situation, Buss was 0-for-6 with four strikeouts entering the at-bat, which proved to be the tide-turning play.

Buss dribbled a single through the left side of the infield on a full-count pitch to spark Jordan's two-run, two-out rally.

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"The game was over," said Greyhounds manager John Frein. "We had them two outs, nobody on and a full count against a guy who had struck out four times. We had it."

Buss started the comeback drive by reaching base for the first time, and a rattled Cummins walked Scott Hollingsworth to put the game-winning run at first. Dean Turnland delivered for the Brewers, gapping a double to score both runners.

Austin outhit the Brewers 10-8 but stranded too many runners throughout the game.

"We had our chances to score in pretty much every inning," Frein said. "We hit the ball right on the nose. It was a good all-around battle."

The Greyhounds led 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth. Clint Ripley had an RBI-groundout in the second, and Austin had the makings of breaking the game open in the fifth.

Grant Lunning walked with one out and Mitch Mullenbach singled. Nick Rohne followed with a hit, but Lunning was gunned down at the plate. With runners on second and third, Matt Cano plated Mullenbach with a hit, and Rohne scored on an error on Cummins' two-out grounder.

Tony Kamps had a triple and a two-run home run for Jordan, driving in the Brewers' first three runs against Greyhound starter Matt Raso. Raso went 10 innings in the no-decision, striking out six and walking six. Both baserunners that Kamps drove in reached with walks.

Trent Bohnsack got the win in relief for Jordan, which upped its record to 9-4 overall. The Brewers are just off the top-10 chart in Class B, while the defending state champion Greyhounds have had trouble overcoming considerable pitching losses in falling to ninth in the rankings.

Cummings tried to combat that with a 3-7 day at the plate and three stolen bases, reaching in six of seven plate appearances. Mullenbach and Rohne each had two hits.

The Greyhounds are at home tonight against the Albert Lea Colonels at 7:30 p.m. at Marcusen Park. Austin is 1-0 in Southern Minny League play this season, beating Faribault in its only other division game. Ripley will get the call to the mound for the 'Hounds.

Linescore:

Austin01002000000001--4101

Jordan00002010000002--583

Raso, Cummins (11) and Rohne; Wolf, Beckius (8), Bohnsack (11) and Simek. WP--Bohnsack. LP--Cummins. 2B--Mosley, Turnland. 3B--Kamps. HR--Kamps.