One of the Blue Sox pitchers finally found his rhythm in an 8-2 win over the Rochester Blues in an amateur baseball game in Riverland Sunday.

Brady Banse escaped trouble in the first inning and cruised for the next five innings to pick up his first win as a Blue Sox pitcher.

“It’s a relief to get a quality start,” said Banse, who had an ERA of 13.50 in his first 20 innings of work this season. “Those other starts were very disappointing and that’s all you can say about them. I’ve had about two weeks off and I’ve been working to get better.”

Banse allowed two hits, a walk, and a run in the first inning, but got the last two hitters of the frame to pop out with two runners on.

“It was good to get out of that inning with some damage control,” Banse said.

Banse, who pitches for Riverland CC, would go on to allow just two hits and one unearned run over the next five innings.

“We knew Brady’s potential was there and the sky is the limit,” Blue Sox manager Josh Kunze said. “Unfortunately for him, he hasn’t come out and shown all he can do. He’s been kind of wild and his pitch counts have been high. Tonight he went out and attacked the zone and he got good hitters out.”

After holding off the Blues’ bats, the Blue Sox (6-9 overall) got their offense going in the fourth inning when they scored seven runs as nine of the first 11 hitters reached base.

Nate Johnson had a two-run single, Andy Swank had a run scoring double, Dan Swift had an RBI-single, and Duell Higbe had an RBI-double in the frame.

The inning started with Pat Wolard and Higbe each getting hit by a pitch and Jason Denzer reaching base on a bunt single.

“You can’t say it enough. That’s our game,” Kunze said. “Get guys on base, then bunt and run to put pressure on the defense.”

Steve Rizzi had the first RBI of the inning on an infield single to score Wolard. It was Rizzi’s first hit as a Blue Sox player. His Austin High School teammate Mark Harber added his first career hit as well with an RBI-triple in the bottom of the eighth inning.

“We usually have a big roster for home games,” Kunze said. “We do our best to develop our program by developing these young guys like Mark Harber, Steve Rizzi, Dylan Monson, and Jordan Hall. We’re always trying to get the next crew of Blue Sox in.”

With a 17-1 win over New Ulm on Saturday at Riverland, the Blue Sox have now won three straight, which gives the team momentum for the SPAMtown Invite.

“The last three games have put us in a position to be confident at the SPAMtown Challenge,” Kunze said.

For the Challenge, Kunze said the team will likely throw Sean Breslin Thursday, Joe Huffman Friday and Duell Higbe on Saturday. Banse could pitch in relief and possibly start Sunday if Austin is still playing.

Blue Sox 8, Blues 2

Blue Sox pitching: Brady Banse (W), 6 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 K, 1 HBP; Andy Swank, 1 IP; Joe Huffman, 2 IP, 2H, 2 K

Blue Sox hitting: Nate Johnson, 1-of-4, 2 RBIs, SB; Aaron Port, 0-of-2, BB; Andy Swank, 2-of-3, double, 2 RBIs, BB; Dan Swift, 1-of-3, RBI, BB; Pat Wolard, 1-of-2; Duell Higbe, 1-of-2, double, RBI; Jason Denzer, 1-of-3; Joe Kroc, 2-of-3, BB, 2 SB; Steve Rizzi, 1-of-4, RBI; Pete Conway, 1-of-1; Mark Harber, 1-of-1, triple, RBI

Blues pitching: Brent Wohlers (L), 3 2/3 IP, 9 H, 2 BB, 7 ER, 2 HBP; Kale Olson, 4 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 3 K

Blues hitting: Bryan Denisen, 2-of-5; Cris Collins, 1-of-4; Ronnie Olson, 0-of-2, BB; Justin Streiff, 2-of-3 BB; Chad Jabary, 1-of-4; Josh McKeaon, 0-of-3; Eric Anderson, 0-of-3; Jake Rezac, 0-of-4; Matt Herold, 0-of-3

Blue Sox 17, New Ulm 1

Duell Higbe (W), 5 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 0 R, 3 K; Jamey Surdy, 2 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 R, 1 K

Blue Sox hitting: Andy Swank, 3-of-4, triple, 3 RBIs, 3 R; Josh Kunze, 2-of-5, triple, double, 3 RBIs; Pat Wolard, 1-of-2, double, 3 RBIs