Laker Baseball Suffers First Loss

BEMIDJI (KDLM) – On Thursday afternoon, the Laker baseball team fell on the road to Bemidji, 9-1. The Lakers struggled to manufacture runs and stranded the bases loaded on two occasions.

The Lakers and the Lumberjacks were scoreless entering the bottom of the 3rd inning, when Bemidji got their offense sparked by the bottom of their batting order. Number seven batter, Will Zellman, led the inning off with a double-off of DL’s starting pitcher Cade Jackson. Jackson then gave up a walk which brought up the number 9 batter John Cleven who singled into the outfield and drove in the first run. The Lumberjacks added two more in the inning when third baseman Ben Corradi ripped the ball into the outfield for a double. Corradi finished the game with two doubles and four RBIs.

The Lakers loaded the bases in the top of the 4th thanks to two walks given up by Lumberjack pitcher Dan Clusiau. The Lumberjacks also committed an error to give the Lakers their best scoring chance of the afternoon. However, the Lakers could not take advantage as Clusiau got Mason Omberg to pop out to the second baseman.

The Lakers scored their first run in the top of the 5th inning as Bradley Swiers worked a one-out walk and then came around to score after Corradi committed an error at third base. The Lakers were able to load the bases in the fifth inning, but Hunter Korth grounded into an inning-ending double play.

The Lumberjacks broke the game open in the bottom of the 5th when Zellman hit a 3-run homer to left field. That made the score 9-1, and the Lumberjacks held on for the victory.

DL’s Cade Jackson suffered the loss (1-1) as he went 4 2/3 innings finishing the game with two strikeouts. Hunter Korth came on in relief and finished the game with one strikeout and allowed 0 hits over 1 1/3 innings.

Bemidji’s Dan Clusiau earned the win and helped Bemidji move to 6-1 overall on the season.

Detroit Lakes falls to 5-1 overall and will return to action this afternoon as they host Park Rapids in a doubleheader. The games will be played at the Detroit Lakes High School field tonight, as Washington Park is still drying out from the wet conditions experienced this spring.