On Sunday, the Pirates traveled to Menomonie to take on an undefeated Eagle squad. Mark Moriarty started for the Pirates and pitched five innings, giving up one run on a handful of hits but unfortunately he had to leave to coach a game in La Crosse. Eric Monson came in for Moriarty and that is where the game went from intense to crazy.
In the top of the 8th inning, Ryan Burmeister walked to lead off the inning. Alex Ross then bunted down the 1st base side where the Eagle pitcher bobbled the ball and threw wild allowing Burmeister to scamper to third. Billy Brookshaw tied the game up with a sacrafice fly to right field.
In the top of the 10th, Nick Johnson singled to center with two outs. Jim French walked and Mike Brookshaw singled home Johnson on a really close play at home to give the Pirates their first lead. In the bottom half of the inning, Menomonie had runners on first and second with two outs and an Eagle batter hits a ball down the third base line that hits the base, pops up over Billy Brookshaw landing in left field and allow the tying run to score.
In the bottom of the 11th, after a single and double, Menomonie had runners on second and third with nobody out. Monson was able to strike out the next hitter for the first out. The Pirates intentionally walked the next batter and played a five man infield. The next hitter drilled one at Burmeister at shortstop where he fired home for the force out. Monson was able to get the final out on a fly ball that ended another crazy inning.
In the top of the 13th, Brady Randolph singled up the middle and went to third base on Johnson’s single to right field. Jim French put the Pirates ahead with a single to RF that plated Randolph and again, the Pirates lead. Menomonie then tied the game in the bottom of the inning with the inning ending in a run down of Menomonie’s cat quick second baseman.
In the top of the 14th, Austin Tulip singled to left leading off the inning and Burmeister bunted him to second for the first out. Alex Ross then tripled to dead center that scored Tulip and Ross scored on a wild pitch to put the Pirates up 5-3. Of course, Menomonie would put two on in the bottom half of the inning but Johnson was able to induce a ground ball to third to end the debacle.
Fantastic game between two teams that should make some noise in the post season.
Prescott Pirates Baseball 