Norway Rallies Past Braves For Doubleheader Split

GLADSTONE---The Norway Knights scored eight runs in the final two innings to beat the Gladstone Braves, 10-6, in the second game of a doubleheader Monday in Gladstone.

The Braves won the opener, 4-2, on a walk-off two-run home run by Ben Schwalbach.

And for most of the evening, it looked like the Braves would sweep the doubleheader, the same way they did against Negaunee, Marquette, and Iron Mountain earlier on this homestand.

Gladstone led, 6-2, as the Braves scored six runs in the first three innings against Norway starting pitcher Dante Pedrotti.

Jack Stephenson had an RBI single and Daniel Martin drove in two runs with a sacrafice fly and ground out. Hunter Botruff had a triple and scored a run; and Lucas Weinert smacked a double off the bottom of the left field fence. He also scored a run.

But in the fifth inning, Braves starting pitcher Nick Trudeau had problems with walks, and the defense fell apart behind him. Three runs scored in that inning, with Adam Faull getting an RBI single, bringing Norway to within 6-5 heading into the final inning.

In the sixth, Ryan Menard led off with a single, and after a sacrafice bunt, Micah Wilson also singled. With two on and one out, Kevin Evosevich launched a three-run home run over the left field fence, giving Norway a 8-6. And things got worse for the Braves as that inning moved on, with back-to-back infield errors scoring two more Norway runs.

Trudeau was relieved by Cooper Cavadeas, but the damage was done.

Justin Bal earned the win in relief for the Knights, throwing two scoreless innings.

In the first game, Gladstone's Tyson Seymour and Norway's Trey Doda both went the distance.

The Braves took the lead when Seymour doubled and scored on a fielder's choice play by Stephenson. Gladstone's lead grew to 2-0 in the third inning when Braeden Lamberg bunted his way on and scored on a Martin base hit.

But Norway came back in this game as well, getting RBI singles from Cody Carlson and Bal to tie the game at 2-2. That set up the final inning, when Seymour got a one-out single and rode home on the long home run to left-center field by Schwalbach.

Seymour got the win, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks in six innings. He fanned five batters. Doda allowed four runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Gladstone (15-4) continues its homestand with two more games on Tuesday, against the Kingsford Flivvers. The first game is scheduled to start at 4:00 E.T.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos taken by Brenda Crow, videos taken by Laura Lamberg, and listen to the radio replays of the home runs by Schwalbach and Evosevich.