MANKATO — Mankato West baseball didn’t let a blend of rain and snow derail a near flawless performance Thursday night as the Scarlets upended Northfield 6-0 in a Big Nine Conference game at ISG Field.
Junior right-hander Gavin Torvick and sophomore right-hander Emmitt Rentas combined on a three-hit shutout in helping West improve to 2-0 overall and in the Big Nine. Sophomore shortstop Evan Senske doubled, walked twice and scored a trio of runs for the winners, who also got a two-run single from Rentas in the bottom of the sixth inning.
“I actually kind of enjoyed it,” said Rentas, who struck out two and walked one in not allowing a hit over the final two innings. “Gavin just shut the door over five innings and we were able to get the barrel of the bat on the ball. Our defense was amazing and our pitching staff is so well rounded that we have a lot of confidence.”
After Torvick wiggled out of a first-inning jam, the Scarlets plated the game’s first run while the conditions were still dry. Senske sliced a double down the left-field line, moved up on a wild pitch from Raiders’ starter Ben Ims and scored on senior center fielder Ben O’Neil’s infield out. After Ims struck out the side in the second frame, West pushed the advantage to 2-0 in the third when Senske drew a lead-off walk, O’Neil lined a single the opposite way and Torvick registered an RBI ground-out.
“You just had to keep your body, stay focused and trust the guys out there,” said Torvick, who allowed three hits over five innings while striking out six and walking two. “My curve ball was working and my defense was the main thing behind me. We have a lot of energy on this team and everyone gets along with each other.”
Torvick struck out the side in the fourth inning and at one point set down seven straight Raiders. Rentas entered the game and retired six of the seven batters he faced.
“We knew we had to come out ready to play because they’re a good team,” Senske said. “We really limited the errors and strikeouts by just putting the ball in play. I know I have to get on base and help my team as the lead-off hitter. I mainly just try to put the ball in play by hitting it where it’s pitched. I’ve never played in snow before so it was kind of fun. Everyone on our pitching staff limits walks and we stay focused out there.”
West erupted for four runs in the bottom of the sixth with senior first baseman Mason Schreiber’s double to deep right field getting things going. Sophomore second baseman dropped an RBI single into center field before Rentas delivered a two-run bullet into left-center field. West ended up with five hits and stranded seven runners compared to the Raiders (0-2, 0-2) five.
“I’ve never played in snow before,” West coach Marshall Miller said. “Honestly, I didn’t even know it was supposed to rain and then the snow came down so I was surprised anyone could even see the ball out there. We played pretty close to a perfect game. Our defense was flawless and we put the ball in play enough to score runs when we needed to. Our pitching was fantastic.
“We just have to keep things rolling.”
West plays a 10 a.m. doubleheader Saturday against Owatonna at Minnesota State.