Huskies Start Season Unbeaten

June 4th, 2016

Tyler Peterson-NSO

The Duluth Huskies kicked off their 2016 campaign on a 4 game winning streak, beating the Willmar Stingers twice and the Thunder Bay Border Cats twice.

In the season opener, the Huskies shut down the Stingers 6-0. Minnesota St. Mankato’s Mitch Bauer notched the victory going 6 innings while allowing just 2 hits on his way to a 7 strikeout performance. Jefferson College’s Carter Hanford went 2-3 with 2 RBI’s in the opener, while Florida Southern’s Mitch Reeves went 2-4 with 2 RBI’s.

In game two against the Stingers, the Huskies battled their way to a 5-4 victory. St. Scholastica’s Martin Alcoverde got the win, pitching 5 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits while striking out 3. Villanova’s Trevino Rodriguez came in with one out to go in the game and recorded his first save of the year. Reeves once again led the offense with a 2-4 day at the plate with 2 RBI’s.

In the first match-up against the Border Cats, the Huskies came away with the 7-3 victory. Florida Southern’s Logan Browning got the win by going 5 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits while striking out 3. San Diego’s Daniel Gardner went 4-5 at the plate, recording 2 RBI’s and 2 stolen bases. West Florida’s Nic Strasser also chipped in on offense with a 3-5 performance with an RBI.

In the final game of the road trip, the Huskies remained unbeaten with a scrappy, come from behind, 8-7 victory. The Huskies trailed 7-4 after the 4th inning but would come back and tie it up in the 7th inning. In the top of the 9th, Nic Strasser hit the game winning single which scored Daniel Gardner to secure the victory. Trevino Rodriguez got the win in relief, pitching 2 shutout innings and allowing just 1 run. Strasser went 3-5 in the win with 2 RBI’s and Mitch Reeves went 2-4 with 2 RBI’s.

The Huskies start the year off with a 4-0 record and will look to continue their winning streak in their home opener on June 4th. The game will be played at Wade Stadium with a start time of 7:05pm against the Mankato MoonDogs (3-0).

Tyler Peterson can be contacted at tpeterson@northlandsportsonline.com