(Harlan, IA) — Two state tournament teams from a year ago had a late season battle on Wednesday night and it was Underwood taking advantage of key Harlan errors to win it 6-5.
It was a back and forth game and both teams had chances to win. Harlan struck first in the bottom of the first off Eagles starter Garrett Luett who had allowed only 2 earned runs all season long on the mound. However, Luett hit Colton Schneider with a pitch with one out and then walked Hayden Soma. After striking out Cade Nelson, Jonas Reynolds delivered a 2 out 2 run double to left and the Cyclones led 2-0.
Underwood got those runs back in the top of the 3rd — Harlan starter Weston Reisz gave up a lead off single to Hudson Ross, then intentionally walked Luett. Ryker Adair popped out but Gavin Miles walked to load the bases and Nick Hackett delivered a 2 run single to tie the game at 2-2.
The Eagles took the lead in the 5th — once again Luett was intentionally walked and moved to 2nd on a wild pitch. Reisz struck out the next two batters but Hackett delivered again with a RBI base hit to give Underwood a 3-2 lead.
Luett, meanwhile, was in the groove. After hitting Brett Heese with 2 outs in the first inning, he retired the next 13 batters in a row but Colton Schneider greeted him in the bottom of the 6th with a base hit to left. Luett walked Hayden Soma and Cade Nelson drove in Schneider with a RBI single. Reynolds followed with another RBI hit to give Harlan a 4-3 lead. Heese brought home another run on a towering pop up that was misjudged by Hackett and it dropped in but he recovered to get a force out at 2nd and Nelson scored to make it 5-3 Cyclones.
The game was not over — Hudson Ross started the top of the 7th with a walk, Luett was walked on four pitches. Ryker Adair hit a grounder to short and Schneider got a force play at 2nd for the first out. With runners on the corners, Gavin Miles delivered a RBI single scoring Ross and Adair took third on an error in left. Hackett would pop out for the 2nd out. Easton Robertson hit a grounder to short but Schneider misplayed it for an error which scored Adair to tie the game at 5-5. Lucas Bose walked to load the bases and with Connor Brummett at the plate, Reisz uncorked a wild pitch and Tayden Hull who was running for Miles scored the go ahead run.
Luett would retire the Cyclones in order in the bottom of the 7th and Underwood won the tug of war.
For Underwood, Nick Hackett was 2-4 with 3 RBI. Luett went 7 innings and threw just over 100 pitches, allowing 5 earned runs on 4 hits, walked 2 and struck out 12. At the plate, Luett was intentionally walked three times and walked unintentionally the 4th time and scored 2 runs. Hudson Ross was 1-3 with a walk and 2 runs.
For Harlan, Weston Reisz went 7 innings and allowed 6 runs, 4 earned on 6 hits, walked 6 and struck out 6 on 115 pitches. Jonas Reynolds was 2-3 with a double and 3 RBI.
Line Score
Underwood (21-2) — 6 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors, 8 LOB
Harlan (21-9) — 5 runs, 4 hits, 4 errors, 3 LOB
W: Garrett Luett (8-0)
L: Weston Reisz (2-3)
Time: 1:49
