Nisswa wins two of three from Brainerd

NISSWA - Brainerd and Nisswa played three games, consisting of 17 innings and 4.5 hours, Tuesday night before Nisswa emerged with two victories in a slugfest.

The first game completed the June 16 contest that was postponed by rain with Nisswa leading 5-1 in the top of the fifth.

Brainerd scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to win 6-5. Back-to-back two-run doubles by Reid Mimmack and Tom Fairbanks gave Brainerd the win.

For Brainerd, Rob Veith was 2-for-4 with a run, Joel Martin was 2-3 with two runs, Mimmack was 2-2 with a run and Fairbanks was 2-2 with three RBIs.

Nisswa's Tate Rusk was 2-4 with a run, Dan Bendzick was 1-3 and Burrell Flanagan was 1-3 with a double.

Martin got the win. In two innings he had three strikeouts, a walk and allowed one hit.

Flanagan took the loss. He pitched two innings, allowing six runs and 10 hits with four walks.

In the first game of the regularly scheduled doubleheader, Nisswa nipped Brainerd 9-8.

Nisswa led 9-2 before Brainerd six runs in the seventh. With a runner at first and two out Bendzick ended the game by striking out Brett Jenkins.

For Nisswa, Ethan Nichols was 2-2 with two runs, Bendzick was 2-3 with a 3-run homer, Alex Rohde was 2-3 with a double and Zac Voels was 2-3.

Brainerd's Rob Veith was 1-3 with a double, Trevor Howard 3-4 with a double and Jake Caughey 3-4 with a 3-run homer.

Flanagan got the win. In five innings he struck out four, walked three and allowed two runs.

Martin took the loss. He pitched five innings, with four strikeouts and three walks. He allowed 10 hits and eight runs.

In Game Two of the doubleheader, Nisswa scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to score another 9-8 win. Rohde's RBI single tied it. Craig McCluney's sacrifice fly won the game.

Nisswa's Desmond Janousek was 2-4, Trevor Thompson 3-4, Bendzick hit a 3-run homer and Nichols was 2-4.

For Brainerd, Jenkins was 1-2 with a run and three walks, Martin was 2-4 with a double, Mimmack hit a 3-run homer and Trevor Howard was 3-4 with two runs.

The win went to Nichols, who pitched one-third of an inning. Bendzick pitched 5.2 innings, with one strikeout and four walks. He allowed six hits and three runs.

Jenkins, who pitched a complete game, took the loss. He had one strikeout and two walks while allowing 12 hits.

Completion of June 16 suspended game

Nisswa 5 7 3

Brainerd 6 10 2

WP: Joel Martin. LP: Burrell Flanagan

Game One

Nisswa 9 10 0

Brainerd 8 10 2

WP: Burrell Flanagan. LP: Joel Martin

Game Two

Nisswa 9 12 1

Brainerd 8 8 1

WP: Ethan Nichols. LP: Brett Jenkins. Records: Brd 6-9, Nisswa 11-3. Next: Brainerd at Bemidji 5 p.m. Tuesday (2), Nisswa at Little Falls 5 p.m. July 8 (2).