Baseball: Packers keep season alive, will play another elimination game

Published 3:45 pm Monday, May 25, 2015

Isaac Schumacher connects on a pitch against Farmington in Dundas Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Isaac Schumacher connects on a pitch against Farmington in Dundas Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

DUNDAS — The No. 8 seeded Austin baseball team had its backs against the wall against No. 4 seeded Farmington (13-10 overall) in a Section 1AAA elimination game, but the Packers had a big answer to get a 4-1 win in Dundas Monday.

Austin's Nate Conner slides into third base against Farmington in Dundas Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Nate Conner slides into third base against Farmington in Dundas Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin (9-12 overall) scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to keep its season alive and it led another elimination game against Rochester Century 1-0 headed into to the bottom of the third inning. The Packers and Panthers will resume play in Century High School 5 p.m. Tuesday with the winner advancing to the Final Four.

The Packers trailed 1-0 headed into the top of the seventh against Farmington when Alex Ciola and Nik Gasner came up with back-to-back one out RBI singles and Jason Stoulil added a sacrifice fly in the rally.

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“It just shows the inner drive of the boys,” Austin head coach Chris Gogolewski said. “They’re not going to give up. We were down and the guys just exploded and that shows that they don’t want their season to be done.

Gasner, a senior, was dominant on the mound again as he scattered three hits and allowed zero earned runs. He has now allowed just three earned runs in his last 27 innings and he has won four straight starts.

“On the mental side of it I was just battling and not getting down,” Gasner said. “I’ve got to be confident, focus on each pitch and not get to far ahead of myself. Confidence has played a big part in how I’ve been playing lately.”

Austin's Nate Conner slides into third base against Farmington in Dundas Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Nate Conner slides into third base against Farmington in Dundas Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin came up with three of its six hits in the seventh as the team felt a sense of urgency.

“I think in that last inning it really hit us that it could be our last game of the year,” Gasner said. “We got excited, the energy level went up and we found a way to put runs on the board.”

Gogolewski said Gasner has stepped up has a leader.

“His senior leadership has been what you want out of a senior. He said on the bus ‘coach, I want the ball again.’ For him to come hungry like that is really nice,” Goglewski said.

Hunter Lewis pitched two shutout innings against Century and Jason Stoulil scored on a wild pitch in the top of the second inning.

Austin 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 — 4 6 1

Farmington 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 — 1 3 3

Austin pitching: Nik Gasner (W) 7 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 K, HBP

Austin's Hunter Lewis throws in the rain against Rochester Century in Dundas Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Hunter Lewis throws in the rain against Rochester Century in Dundas Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin hitting: Dylan Gasner, 1-for-3, R, HBP; Alex Ciola, 1-for-4, RBI, R; Nate Conner, 0-for-3, R, BB; Nik Gasner, 1-for-3, RBI, BB; Jason Stoulil, 1-for-3, RBI