Indees nine starts fast in first win

The Independence/Gilmanton baseball team put up three runs in the first inning and held on for an 8-4 win at Alma/Pepin last Tuesday.

The Indees were in control throughout the game as they put up three more runs in the fourth inning. The Eagles got a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to narrow the margin, but the Indees’ lead was never threatened.

I/G (1-3) was set to host Whitehall on Tuesday before playing at Whitehall on Thursday. The team returns home to play Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran on Friday, then welcomes Blair-Taylor next Tuesday and Melrose-Mindoro next Friday. 

I/G 8 Alma/Pepin 4

The Indees got off to a fast start and didn’t look back.

Four of I/G’s first five batters got hits in the top of the first inning. Eric Lopez led off with a single and scored on a single by Chase Back. After Preston Solberg singled, Ricky Lopez doubled two runs home. 

After the Eagles scored one run in the bottom of the second, the Indees looked like they were in for another big inning in the third. The first three batters all singled, but the only run I/G scored was on a hit batter with the bases loaded. 

The Indees did come right back in the fourth, putting up three runs. Blake Slaby made the score 5-1 with an RBI single before Back doubled him home and Ricky Lopez doubled to score Back.

Slaby added an RBI single in the seventh. The Eagles hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh, but I/G’s lead wasn’t seriously threatened. 

The Indees raked 14 hits as Eric Lopez, Back and Ricky Lopez all had three. Ricky Lopez had three RBIs while Back and Slaby both drove two runs home.

Eric Lopez got the start and the win, striking out four batters in 3.1 innings before being replaced by Back. The duo combined to strike out 12 batters, while holding the Eagles to six hits and four walks.