Pitching Duel Doesn’t Fall River Rats Way

Tegan and Spencer Mellgren converge on a ball in foul territory in a game earlier this season. Photo: Jim Wellbrock

By Joey Hudson

Nolan Thompson gets a hold off one to score the River Rats’ only run. Photo: Jim Wellbrock

The Northfield River Rats played the New Prague 45s in a Legion baseball matchup on Tuesday, June 27th at Dundas Memorial Park. Spencer Mellgren started on the mound for the River Rats up against the New Prague righty Tanner Nordrum. Nordrum dominated the River Rats bats, throwing four hitless innings with the only base runner being Kyan Rauk who reached on an error by the 45s shortstop. Nordrum’s dominant outing only included one strikeout in the first four innings, in the first when he struck out Spencer Mellgren looking at a fastball. 

Spencer Mellgren did a great job at limiting the New Prague bats, he allowed one hit in the first and got out of the inning with a double play. He allowed another hit in the second but left the runner stranded when he got the next two hitters out. Spencer allowed a lead-off single in the fourth to the 45s left fielder Ashton Farrell who came around to score when Tanner Nordrum singled up the middle. 

Northfield got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, Nolan Thompson led off the inning reaching on an error and was pinch-ran for by Toby Moyer. Moyer came around to score when Kyan Rauk hit a ground ball to the right side for an infield base hit, allowing Moyer to score on the play. 

Spencer Mellgren rounds second in a game earlier this season. Mellgren had a great outing on the mound striking out two in five innings of work against New Prague. Photo: Jim Wellbrock

In the top of the seventh Nolan Thompson came in relief for Spencer Mellgren with the game tied, 1-1.  New Prague took the lead when Johnny Connelly singled to center field and reached second on an error by River Rats center fielder Tegan Mellgren. Connelly scored when Drew Hertaus came in to pinch-hit and singled to left field. Thompson got out of the inning without allowing any more runs but the River Rats were down 2-1 going into the bottom of the seventh. 

After two quick outs to lead off the bottom of the seventh Seth Thompson roped a ball off the right field wall, just missing a home run, for a triple. Despite that Nordrum was able to get the strikeout to end the game as the River Rats fell to 4-3 on the year and will play in Rosemount on Wednesday, June 28th at 6:00 pm. You can catch that game and all Legion games on NorthfieldLive.com and stay up to date with all Northfield activities by heading over to NorthfieldLive.com and following us on social media @NorthfiedLive.