Marquette Rallies For Baseball Win Over Escanaba

MARQUETTE---Brandon Lotterman's base hit with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning snapped a 3-3 tie and gave the Marquette Redmen a 4-3 win over the Escanaba Eskymos Wednesday night at Marquette's Gerard Haley Field.

It was the first-ever baseball victory for the Redmen over Escanaba, and the Marquette boys celebrated wildly after the winning run crossed home plate.

"I told the kids that they're not gonna sneak up on anybody and we will get the other team's best all the time," Escanaba Coach Kirk Schwalbach said. "I wouldn't have it any other way. It's disappointing to lose another one-run game.

"It's either going to build character or it's not. And I hope it builds character in our kids."

Marquette (9-4) took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on a walk, an error, a double play grounder, and an RBI single by Garret Finkbeiner.

Escanaba tied the game in the fifth inning when Marquette's left-handed starting pitcher, Riley Lynch, started to tire.

Lynch, who struck out six Eskymo batters, walked three and hit a batter in that fifth inning. The Eskymos scored their first run on a bases-loaded walk to Hunter LaMarch, and the second run came home on a wild pitch. The Eskymos stranded the bases loaded.

In the top of the seventh inning, Brandon Punzel led off with a booming double to the fence in center field. Corey McInerney ran for Punzel, and the next two guys made outs. But LaMarch came through with a two-out single to left, scoring McInerney.

Lewis Ostrander limited the Redmen to four hits through six innings. He tried to finish the game, but after retiring the first man he faced in the bottom of the seventh, Ostrander gave up a walk, and then he hit the next batter with a pitch.

Schwalbach brought in Tyler Skufca to pitch, and he got Trevor Koski to pop up for the second out of the inning. Lynch was on second base carrying the tying run when a pitch went into the dirt.

Eskymo catcher Sean Bissell picked it up and threw wildly to third base, with the ball going into left field.

As Lynch rounded third, Eskymo left fielder Jack Valentine picked up the ball and threw a strike to home plate. But it was just a tad late, and the tying run scored. Meanwhile, the other runner, Brendan Higbie, advanced to third base. Lotterman's hit ended it.

"I don't want to blame it (the loss) on Sean," Schwalbach said. "We scored three runs. Our goal is seven every game. I tell the kids that every time we lose."

Schwalbach says that his team continues to struggle against left-handed pitchers.

"Their pitcher, Lynch, is a nice pitcher," Schwalbach said. "I was impressed. Kudos to him. He pitched well. One inning, we scalded a couple and it went right to their guys (outfielders for outs). I feel bad for the kids. But that's baseball."

And the Eskymos (6-5) will possibly face another left-handed pitcher on Thursday as the Gladstone Braves come to Al Ness Field for a rivaly game.

Schwalbach says that he expects either Hunter Garling or Jake Peterson to pitch for the Braves.

The Escanaba-Gladstone game starts at 4:30 and will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com. The pre-game show starts at about 4:15.

CHANGES TO WEEKEND TOURNAMENT---Negaunee has dropped out of this weekend's Escanaba Lions Club Tournament. So now, it will be a three-team event.

The new schedule will see Escanaba face Bark River-Harris at 10:00, then Bark River-Harris will take on Sault Ste. Marie at 12:30. The Eskymos will then play the Sault at 3:00. We will broadcast the 12:30 and 3:00 games on AM-600 and rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos taken by Mickey LaMarch.

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

4/7	4:30 PM	at Marinette Marines	15 - 0 (W)	1-0

4/11	12:00 PM	at Seymour, Wis.	10 - 5 (W)	2-0

4/11	2:00 PM	at Shiocton, Wis.	7 - 9 (L)	2-1

4/15	5:30 PM	Marquette Redmen	8 - 3 (W)	3-1

4/23	5:00 PM	Negaunee Miners	6 - 2 (W)	4-1

4/24	5:00 PM	at Beloit Turner, Wis.	10 - 5 (W)	5-1

4/25	1:00 PM	at Waupun, Wis.	rain - ppd (W)	rain

4/25	4:00 PM	at Prairie Du Chien Blackhawks	rain - ppd (W)	rain

4/28	4:30 PM	at Gladstone Braves	4 - 5 (L)	5-2

5/1	4:00 PM	at Bay City John Glenn	9 - 2 (W)	6-2

5/2	10:00 AM	at Bay City John Glenn	4 - 5 (L)	6-3

5/2	12:30 PM	at Coldwater High School	5 - 15 (L)	6-4

5/6	5:30 PM	at Marquette Redmen	3 - 4 (L)	6-5

5/7	4:30 PM	Gladstone Braves	5 - 4 (W)	7-5

5/9	10:00 AM	Bark River-Harris Broncos	14 - 5 (W)	8-5

5/9	3:00 PM	Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils	13 - 3 (W)	9-5

5/13	5:00 PM	Norway Knights	10 - 1 (W)	10-5

5/14	5:00 PM	North Central Jets	9 - 1 (W)	11-5

5/14	7:30 PM	North Central Jets	17 - 6 (W)	12-5

5/16	10:00 AM	Negaunee Miners	11 - 0 (W)	13-5

5/16	3:00 PM	Shawano Hawks	2 - 13 (L)	13-6

5/18	4:00 PM	at Bay Port, Wis. Pirates	5 - 6 (L)	13-7

5/18	6:00 PM	at Bay Port, Wis. Pirates	0 - 0 (T)	13-7-1

5/21	5:28 PM	Marinette Marines	16 - 15 (W)	14-7-1

5/23	1:00 PM	Kingsford Legion Blues	5 - 1 (W)	15-7-1

5/23	4:00 PM	Kingsford Legion Blues	5 - 0 (W)	16-7-1

5/26	5:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	RAIN - ppd (W)	RAIN

5/30	10:00 AM	Petoskey Northmen	1 - 2 (L)	16-8-1