MANKATO — Sophomore catcher Jackson Kopp’s two-run double ignited a seven-run fifth-inning burst Friday night as Mankato Loyola upended Hayfield 8-5 in a nonconference baseball game at ISG Field.
Sophomore right-hander Covin Winter allowed one earned run over five plus innings while striking out two, walking five and hitting two. Winter complimented his pitching performance by going 3 for 4 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored. Senior right-hander TJ O’Malley struck out the side in the final frame to pick up a save.
“I was feeling it tonight,” Winter said. “He was staying around the outside corner, so I just went up there looking for that pitch and I got it. My first at bat he gave me one on the inside part of the plate so I pulled it. At first, I thought it was a home run because everybody was celebrating, but it felt good coming off the bat.
“I was focusing on throwing strikes and using multiple pitches to get around their good hitters. I just needed to stay calm and relax when they got guys on base. There was no need to rush. After my hit in that big inning, everyone just started to click together and we had a run. We play our hardest every game and we keep battling even if we’re down.”
Loyola (6-3) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when senior shortstop Cam Fogal drew a lead-off walk, stole a pair of bases and scored when Winter’s ripped a double that lodged itself under the left-field fence. After the Vikings (4-5) tallied an unearned run in fourth and one more an inning later to take a 2-1 lead, the Crusaders erupted for seven runs on seven hits to gain control.
“We saw their best pitcher and a lefty for the first time,” Loyola coach Sam Carlson said. “We had our chances early but he made some good pitches to get out of a few innings. Covin pounded the zone and we made the plays. He kept his cool really well having a runner on third multiple times.
“I thought Jackson Kopp did a really nice job behind the dish. He saved us at least two runs blocking the ball so overall it was a real good game. We got some big hits from the bottom of our order when we needed to and then the top of the order did their thing at the end. I think the big thing was that we kind of caught some of those outside pitches and then he went inside and Jackson hit that one. … We had some good swings but we didn’t always have that great at bat when we needed it.”
Winter’s one-out single up the middle began the Crusaders fifth-inning surge. Senior center fielder Eddie Engen followed with a bullet into left field, setting up Kopp’s two-run double into the left-center field gap. DH RJ Beal then lined an RBI single into left field before a single from Coty Haala along with a pair of hit batters set up O’Malley’s two run-single and Winter’s run-producing base hit.
Hayfield closed the margin to 8-5 in the sixth behind back-to-back RBI triples into the right-center field gap by Rylan Nelson and Steele.
“I just kept my head up and stayed positive to get that big base knock after starting out 0 for 3,” O’Malley said. “There was a lot of energy throughout the whole team and the guys were feeling it. Covin threw a great game for us and we were able to get the bats going. Our confidence was high and we started to look for a certain pitch and sit on it.”
Loyola plays Monday at Nicollet.