New Ulm Sports Central - Preserving and Sharing New Ulm Area Sports History

GAYLORD - The Searles Bullheads squeaked by Eden Prairie Lions Tap here Friday evening 6-4 in nine innings. Searles starting pitcher Kyle Messner carried a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning, but Eden Prairie struck for three in the bottom of the inning off reliever Kevin Hulke to take a 4-3 lead.

A clutch two-out double by Mike Marquardt scored Scott Schaefer in the top of the seventh to tie the game for the Bullheads with Tom Steinbach pitching the last of the inning. He walked the lead-off hitter, and following a stolen base and a wild pitch, the potential winning run stood at third with no outs. Steinbach wiggled out of the jam by striking out two and getting a weak foul pop-up to end the Eden Prairie threat and send the game into extras.

Marquardt and Brian Sieve drove in a pair of ninth inning runs for Searles. Steinbach worked out of a bases loaded situation in the bottom of the frame to earn the pitching win. Seven Bullheads had multi-hit games, but stranded 16 runners.

The Bullheads travel to Webster Sunday, June 13th, to begin a busy four-game week which includes the "Twins Night" game at Fairfax Monday, June 14th at 7:30PM.

Searles ............ 002 100 102 --- 6 - 17 - 1
Eden Prairie .....100 003 000 --- 4 - 10 - 2
Messner, Hulke(6), Tom Steinbach (W) (7) and Schaefer; R. Walsh, Fuecker (L) (6), and Bobbit
2b-(S) Schaefer, Fauth, Marquardt - (EP) Saatzer, Bobbit, D. Walsh, Bevell

Submitted by: Bruce Jacobs - Searles Bullheads media rep.