OTC defeats Barnesville 15-3 in non-conference action

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The Otter Tail Central Bulldogs picked up three big wins, while dropping a pair of games to Wadena-Deer Creek in Park Region Conference. 

On Tuesday night the Bulldogs fell to the Wolverines by scores of 10-0 and 14-4, before sweeping a doubleheader against Sebeka on Thursday night by scores of 5-2 and 9-7. OTC also defeated Barnesville by a score of 16-3 in non-conference action on Friday night for their fourth win of the season. 

The Bulldogs are now 4-7 overall as they head into the final two weeks of the regular season.

Tuesday

OTC combined for 17 hits in a doubleheader against Wadena-Deer Creek on Tuesday night, but unfortunately, 13 errors led to 15 unearned runs as they fell by scores of 10-0 and 14-4.

In the first game of the day, WDC scored one run in the first inning, two in the second and fifth innings, and ended the game by the 10-run rule with a five run bottom of the sixth inning. The Bulldogs collected seven hits in the game, including three by Ezrah Baker. 

As a team, OTC committed five errors which led to six unearned runs. Sophie Akerman took the loss in the circle as she pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up 11 hits and 10 runs.

In the second game of the night, OTC fell to WDC by a score of 14-4. Once again, OTC errors proved to be costly as the Bulldogs committed eight errors, which led to nine unearned runs. 

OTC took an early 4-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Sophie Akerman, Liz Lukken and Kenady Cameron all connected for RBIs, but the Wolverines answered with a run of their own in the third inning, four in the fourth inning, six in the fifth inning and a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 14-4 lead.

Ezrah Baker once again led the way for OTC as she collected two of the Bulldogs 10 hits. 

AB R H     BI

B. Christianson 3 0 0 0

S. Akerman 3 0 0 0

L. Lukken 3 0 1 0

E. Baker 3 0 3 0

K. Cameron 3 0 0 0

E. Dirkman 3 0 1 0

E. Larsen 2 0 1 0

L. Conner 2 0 0 0

D. Grabe 2 0 1 0

HITTING- 2B- E. Baker

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-k)- S. Akerman 5.2-11-10-4-4-1

AB R H     BI

B. Christianson 4 1 1 0

S. Akerman 4 1 1 1

L. Lukken 1 1 1 1

D. Grabe 3 0 1 0

E. Baker 3 1 2 0

K. Cameron 4 0 1 1

E. Dirkman 3 0 1 0

E. Larsen 3 0 1 0

B. Bunkowski 3 0 1 0

K. Trosdahl 3 0 0 0

K. Robinson 0 0 0 0

HITTING- 2B- E. Baker, S. Akerman

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-k)- K. Cameron 4.2-6-10-4-7-3, S. Akerman 2.1-4-4-1-1-0

Thursday

OTC swept the Sebeka Trojans by scores of 5-2 and 9-7 on Thursday night. 

In the nightcap, the Bulldogs scored nine runs in the opening four innings of the game and held on for a 9-7 win. The team didn’t commit a single error in the game and three pitchers combined to go the distance. 

OTC scored one run in the bottom of the first inning, two in the second inning and four in the fourth inning to take a 7-4 lead. Sebeka tied the game up at 7-7 in the top of the fourth inning, before OTC scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 9-7 lead for good.

Liz Lukken led the way offensively with three hits and Kaylee Trosdahl picked up the win in the rubber as she went three innings and gave up eight hits and four runs. Breanna Bunkowski and Kenady Cameron pitched four innings of relief to secure the win. 

AB R H     BI

B. Christianson 1 1 1 2

K. Robinson 1 0 0 0

S. Akerman 4 0 0 0

L. Lukken 4 1 3 1

E. Baker 3 2 1 0

K. Cameron 4 1 1 1

E. Dirkman 4 1 2 3

E. Larsen 2 1 0 0

K. Trosdahl 0 1 0 0

B. Bunkowski 0 0 0 0

D. Grabe 3 1 1 0

HITTING- 2B- L. Lukken, B. Christianson

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-k)- K. Trosdahl 3.0-8-4-4-2-3, B. Bunkowski 1.0-2-3-3-3-0, K. Cameron 3.0-0-0-0-4-0

Friday

OTC picked up its third straight win on Friday night as the Bulldogs blew past Barnesville 16-3. The Bulldogs outhit the Trojans by a 10-6 margin and took advantage of three costly Barnesville errors. 

After Barnesville scored two runs in the top of the first inning, OTC came back with three runs each in the first and second inning. They added 10 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 16-2 lead, before Barnesville added a run in the top of the fifth inning.

Liz Luken and Emma Dirkman led the way with two hits and three RBIs apiece, while Sophie Akerman picked up the win in the circle by pitching five innings and giving up six hits and three earned runs. 

AB R H     BI

B. Christianson 2 3 1 1

S. Akerman 3 3 1 1

L. Lukken 3 3 2 3

E. Baker 2 2 1 2

K. Cameron 3 2 1 1

E. Dirkman 4 1 2 3

E. Larsen 3 1 1 0

B. Bunkowski 3 0 0 0

K. Robinson 2 1 1 1

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-k)- S. Akerman 5.0-6-3-3-0-1