photo by Nick Gerhardt

Albert Lea starter Nick Hagen and first baseman Jared Matson nearly collide trying to field a pop up Wednesday at Hayek Field. The Colonels lost to Rochester 12-4.

Colonels can’t find big hits in loss

By Nick Gerhardt | Albert Lea Tribune

Published Thursday, July 2, 2009

Early on it appeared as though the recent success of the Albert Lea Colonels would continue Wednesday against the Rochester Blues, but quickly shades of its former self returned as the Colonels dropped a 12-4 game.

Albert Lea (2-11) gained a 2-1 lead after the first inning, taking advantage of early wildness from Blues starter Mike DeBolt and a clutch, two-out single from Matt Schumann that scored two runs.

The offense sputtered the rest of the game, leaving the bases loaded in the second and fourth innings. The Colonels stranded 14 in the game and ended their two-game winning streak.

“One of the big things was leaving guys on base in the first three innings,” said Albert Lea manager Bill Trygstad. “We had our chance to open it up there and just didn’t.”

Just as the lack of timely hitting resurfaced for the Colonels, so did the errors. In the fourth inning four Albert Lea errors keyed a Blues five-run inning as they took a 6-2 lead.

The first five hitters reached in the inning as Rochester chased Colonels starter Nick Hagen.

After Darin Wagner reached on an error to score a run, Mitch Anderson followed with an RBI single and DeBolt hit a double that scored two runs. The second run came on an overthrow to home.

Albert Lea committed six errors in the game and had several other miscues that extended innings for Rochester.

Three Albert Lea players had a multi-hit game. Schumann finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs while Jared Matson went 3-for-5 and Zac Oquist went 2-for-5. But the middle of the order went 0-for-10 with five strikeouts.

“We just didn’t get guys in,” Trygstad said. “You got bases loaded or two guys on with one out or two outs, you should get something in, but we didn’t.”

Albert Lea has a week off between its next game.

“I think we probably need a break right about now,” Trygstad said. “Although when you’re starting to play better ball, you don’t necessarily want a break either.”

Rochester 12, Albert Lea 4

Rochester 100 512 003 — 12 12 1

Albert Lea 200 010 001 — 4 9 6

WP — Eric Anderson 3 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

LP — Nick Hagen 3 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 2 K

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