Senior pitcher Wilson Magers’ sixth-inning bunt single ignited a two-run rally Wednesday as undefeated and No. 2-ranked Mankato West slipped past Mankato East 3-2 in a Big Nine Conference baseball showdown at ISG Field.
East (10-3 overall, 9-2 in Big Nine) took a 2-1 lead into the sixth with senior ace right-hander Nick Werk allowing only a first-inning run on three hits. However, Magers, who gave up one earned run on three hits over 5 2/3 innings while striking out seven and walking two, pushed a bunt perfectly down the third-base line.
Senior third baseman Mason DuRose then smacked a game-tying RBI double to deep left-center field before senior catcher Adam Timm lofted a soft liner over a leaping Zach Bosse into shallow right field for the game-winner. Werk ended up giving up six hits over six innings with nine strikeouts and two walks.
“We knew it was going to be a dog fight because both teams have good defense and pitching,” Magers said. “We were able to get those timely hits from Mason DuRose and Adam Timm. They kind of got on me in that first inning when I made a few bad pitches before I settled in the rest of the game. I hit my spots and settled in with my off-speed to let my defense work behind me.
“We were able to get those quality at bats late in the game. We just wanted to put the ball in play and that bunt gave us a chance to get going. I’ve played with Nick since we were young kids and he really kept us off balance with his good off-speed and fastball. We’ve had great senior leadership all year so now we’re looking to play our best baseball at the end of the year.”
West senior right-hander Jude Etter recorded the final four outs of the contest, including a game-ending strikeout, to seal the Scarlets’ eighth straight triumph. Magers also belted a first-inning double while Tim collected a pair of hits.
East scored twice in their first at bat when junior first baseman Owen Studtman sliced an RBI double into the left-field corner in front of a Bosse single. West cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the first behind Charlie Hudeik’s single, Magers’ double and a balk from Werk.
“Whenever I go on the mound I just want to pound the strike zone because I have a good defense behind me,” Werk said. “Everything was a little off at the start but then I got the groove back. Wilson is their main guy because he makes everybody around him better. Just seeing him grow up as a person is special and to see both of us going on to play at a higher level is awesome for both of us.
“There wasn’t a lot of expectations coming into this year since we lost almost our entire roster. We’re a junior dominated team and have really picked it up. There’s going to be a lot of good baseball left as we start to prepare for sections.”
West stranded seven runners on base compared to the Cougars’ four.
“It isn’t really about the result of this game, it’s going to be how we respond to it,” East coach Micah Degner said. “Both pitchers showed how good they were and when they leave pitches where they don’t want to they can get hit. We’re happy with our performance and now it should be a fun rest of the month.”
Junior left fielder Jack Hansen’s nifty diving bases-loaded snag of Jayden Knutson’s bullet to end the sixth kept things close, before Etter worked a 1-2-3 final frame.
“We settled in after the slow start and didn’t let the moment get too big,” West coach Scott Kaminski said. “Werk is a heck of a pitcher who shut us down for the most part. … It was two quality teams and pitchers going at it so we feel fortunate to be on the winning side.”