Bandits Mug Braves, 8-5.

The St. Croix River Bandits (2-1, 5-5) defeated the Osceola Braves for the first time on home soil Sunday, June 5th. Trevor Todd started the game for the Bandits, but the early story was the Bandits bats. The Braves started former UW-La Cross pitcher Mark Zurbriggen and the Bandits got to him early.

Cory Gebhard led off the bottom of the 1st with a single. Recently graduated SCF senior Nick Johnson stung a double to right centerfield scoring Gebhard, who had stole second. Matt Vold poked a single through the infielders. Steve Siqueiros walked to load the bases with no outs. Gus Koecher struck out, followed by a Michael VanderPlas fielder's choice, forcing Siqueiros out at 2nd base and scoring Johnson from third base. Kyle Kahl followed by hitting an RBI single, and Scott Lindholm walked to reload the bases with 2 outs and with a 3-0 lead. Bandits rookie Brock Luehman hit a bases clearing double to left centerfield giving the Bandits a 6-run cushion to start the game.

Trevor Todd cruised through the first three innings. Todd wriggled out of jams unscathed in the 4th and 5th inning, but the Braves finally posted a run in the top of the 6th inning thanks to some shaky Bandits defense which commited two errors in the inning.

The Bandits, meanwhile, added another run in the bottom of the 4th inning with Johnson's 2nd double of the day. Johnson was scored by Matt Vold who slapped another bloop single into right field. Johnson would finish the day 4-4 with 2 runs, 3 doubles, a stolen base, and RBI.

The Braves were down 7-1 going into the top of the 7th inning when they finally made a run. Todd started off the inning by striking out CF Pete Droher, but then allowed a single to LF Ryan Rugg and double to C Nick Collins. Todd was lifted for Bandits rookie and recently graduated Unity alum Luke Nelson. Nelson's debut started off a little rocky giving up a walk to RF Ryan Rybicki and single to Braves veteran SS Dave Measner. Nelson struck out 3B Brady Flaherty for the 2nd out of the inning with the Bandits still leading 7-3. 1B Tyler Pilz would reach on a costly error and DH Tom Roberts followed it up with an RBI single, cutting the lead to 7-5. Nelson was able to strike out 2B Darcy Nelson to end the inning.

The Bandits would add another run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Scott Lindholm walked, and advanced to 2nd base on a wild pitch. Brock Luehmann knocked him in with his 2nd single and 4th RBI of the day.

Luke Nelson shut down Braves in the 8th and 9th inning, capturing six consecutive outs to close out the game.

The win puts the Bandits at 2-1 in conference play, the Braves dropping to 0-1. Bandits next games are Friday June 10th @ Menomonie - 7:30pm start and Saturday @ Hudson - 1pm start.

In years past the Bandits would probably have thrown this game away. The Bandits showed a lot of grit in sticking this one out and not giving up when the chips seemed to be down when Osceola had a big inning. Congrats Bandits.

**NOTES**

Game Balls:

1) Brock Luehmann 2-4, 2B, 4RBI
Nick Johnson 4-4, 2R, 3 2B, RBI, SB
(too tough to pick!)
3) Trevor Todd 6 1/3 IP, 6H, 3R, 2ER, 9K, 3BB, WIN

Unheralded Hero(es) of the Game:

Luke Nelson - playing in his first game as a Bandit he pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowed only 2 hits and a walk while striking out four, and allowing two run, none earned.

Brian Jacobson - for bringing it all together.

MIA (had a whopping 18 guys in the dugout):

Adam Lewis - typhoid sickness
Austin Whittenberger - mountain climbing