July 31, 2015 at 9:46 a.m.

Knights get to 12th but can't score gamewinner


The good news is the Dodgeville Knights are in the post season play-offs.
The bad news is they missed a chance to move up in the standings with a 12-6 loss to Shullsburg/Benton in 12 innings Sunday.
With both teams tied at six heading into the 12th the floodgates opened for the Fever and didn't quit until they doubled their production from the first 11 frames.
A three run double by Joe Cox was the back breaker. The actual winning run scored when Jake Green doubled, took third on a single by Conner Crotty and scored on a wild pitch.
Ironically, losing pitcher Austin Yager struck out batters for two of the three outs. He fanned the first batter of the frame then got the second out on a K with three runs in. It took 10 batters to record three outs, the last one on a fielders choice.
The Fever put up a run in the first when Cox doubled in Kyle Hoppman who had coaxed a walk off Knights starter Nic Pierick.
The Knights answered with a three run fourth on an rbi single by Ian Streeter, an error and a sac fly by Jay Lindner.
The Fever got a run in the fifth when Tommy Behrens singled and Trevor Kattre doubled for the tally.
A three run sixth for the Fever came on two walks, rbis on a single by Nathan Hendrickson and an double by Justin Crotty along with a sac fly by Behrens.
The Knights got a run in the seventh when Tanner Solberg blasted a solo home run.
They took a 6-5 lead in the eighth on a double by Yager, a walk, a bases loaded walk to Mark Ludwig and an rbi single by Solberg.
The Fever tied it in the ninth when Trevor Kattre reached the fences for a solo home run with one out.
The teams then traded outs until the Fever broke it open in the 12th.
Hendrickson got the win for Shullsburg/Benton with 4 2/3 innings of relief.
Pierick went five innings, striking out six, walking one and spacing five hits.  He gave up two runs.
Danny Sullivan worked three innings with two strikeouts, four walks and two hits. The Fever got to him for three runs.
Yager went 2 2/3 with four strikeouts, two walks, eight hits and seven runs.
Bill Hellmann came on to get the last out.
Solberg was 4x6 with a home run and two rbis for the Knights.
Ludwig and Sullivan were 2x6, Streeter 2x5, Yager 2x5 with a double and Lindner 2x4. Chris Clerkin had one hit for the Knights.
Bobby Noland and Hellmann combined to pitch the Knights to a 7-6 win over Lodi in Western Section Night League play.
Sullivan led the sticks with a 3x4 night which included a pair of doubles. Kristian Haag had a hit before leaving the game after reinjuring his hamstring which will sideline him for a couple weeks.
Yager was 2x4 with a double while Brandon Weier, Ludwig, Travis Elvert and Solberg had one hit. Solberg's went for a double.
The winning runs scored in the seventh on an rbi double by Solberg and a walk-off single by Yager.
The Knights are scheduled for a Night League make-up tonight at Wisconsin Dells.
Sunday they travel to Wiota for a make-up game which will determine their play-off seed.
Play-offs in the Western Section start next Sunday.
DODGEVILLE

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