Greyhounds advance to state in dramatic fashion

Published 10:16 pm Sunday, August 14, 2016

The Austin Greyhounds are headed to the Class B state tournament after they beat Eagan 6-5 in 12 innings in game three of a Section 4 tournament series on the road Sunday.

Matt Cano drew a bases loaded walk to win the game with two outs in the 12th and Logan Spitzack allowed just one earned run in seven and two-thirds inning to get the win, despite being injured in a nasty collison in one of Saturday’s games.

The Hounds tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth when Nate Conner blasted a three-run homer and they scored another run to go up 5-4, but Eagan forced extra innings when it scored in the top of the ninth.

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“All around great team win. Everyone contributed and we’re ecstatic to be going to state,” Hounds manager John Frein said.

The Hounds will play Cold Spring at  Litchfield in the state tournament opener 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Hounds turned two double plays and Nels Nelson pitched a shutout as the Hounds won 10-0 over Eagan on in Marcusen Park Saturday. Eagan bounced back to win 11-6 to force Sunday’s game three.

Hounds 6, Eagan 5 (12 innings)

Hounds pitching: Steve Clennon, 4 1/3 IP, 3 H, 4 BB, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 K, 1 HBP; Logan Spitzac (W) 7 2/3 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 K

Hounds hitting: Henry Fleek, 3-for-6, 2 R, HBP; Jordan Hart, 2-for-4, 2 BBs; Tyler Nelson, 2-for-7; Nels Nelson, 0-for-3, BB; Matt Cano, 0-for-2, RBI, BB; Spitzack, 2-for-6, R; Nik Gasner, 1-for-2, R, BB; Chris May, 1-for-3, R; Matt Raso, 0-for-5, HBP; Jake Thompson, 1-for-6; John Frein, 0-for-1; Nate Conner, 2-for-5, HR, 3 RBIs, R