By Mike Simmons, AlbertLeaTribune.com

WASECA &8212; The United South Central baseball team (10-8) battled back from a 7-1 first-inning deficit against Waseca (14-5) in its Class 2AA, Section 2A quarterfinal game Tuesday afternoon before falling in a slugfest 12-8 at Waseca&8217;s Tink Larson Field.

&8220;When you spot them six runs in the first inning you are coming back regardless,&8221; said Rebels head coach Pat Frank. &8220;The kids did a nice job coming back with six runs in the third, but when you get six hits and commit four errors you aren&8217;t going to win many ballgames.&8221;

The Rebels started the top of the first with two walks but were left with just one base runner when Tom Voigt was caught stealing second. Then with one out senior Jake Bonsack stroked a run-scoring triple to center field and USC held the early 1-0 lead.

Every team has experienced the kind of inning that the Rebels had to endure in the bottom of the first but it was unfortunate it had to come in the postseason.

The Bluejays chased USC starter Andrew Penning from the game without recording an out.

Waseca scored seven runs before the Rebels got their first out, including a grand slam by the Bluejays cleanup hitter, Andrew Beckman. Adding to the misery were three Rebel errors.

After putting 17 runs on Montomery-Lonsdale in the opening round the Rebels had to know they were capable of a big inning, and it came in the top of third.

USC got right back in the game with six runs on just two hits, a double by Kevin George and a two-run single by Penning to draw to within two at 9-7.

&8220;That was a big inning for us,&8221; Frank said. &8220;Without that inning this would have looked a lot worse than what it was.&8221;

Unfortunately for Frank and the Rebels, that inning was the last of the USC rallies as they gave up three more runs before falling by four to the No. 1 seed in the section.

The fourth-seeded Rebels will travel to Norwood Young America 13-9) to face the third seeded Raiders Thursday at 5 p.m.

Waseca 12, United South Central 8

USC

–

106 001 0 – 8

8

6

4

Waseca – 721 020 x – 12

12

15

1

WP – Kelvin Nelson 2 1/3 IP, 7 R, 3 H, 2 K, 7 BB

LP – Andrew Penning 0 IP, 7 R, 4 H, BB