Gulls, Greenheads split weekend games

Three errors and an inability to score runs spelled defeat for the Brainerd Mighty Gulls as they were edged 9-8 by the Minot Greenheads in Northwoods League baseball Sunday at Mills Field.

After the Gulls pulled ahead 3-1 in the third inning the Greenheads went on a scoring rampage, picking up five runs in the fourth and three more in the sixth.

Brainerd pulled within one in the eighth inning. Pinch-hitter Mike Osequera hit a leadoff double followed by a Casey Tornberg single. Osequera scored on a Mike McCoy grounder and Thornberg scored on a Ryan Wickham single. But that's all Brainerd could manage as it fell to 25-28 on the season.

Wickham finished the game 3-for-3 with a run and RBI. Joe Urban knocked in two runs as did Sam Steidl.

The same teams face off again tonight with Seth Hill taking the mound for Minot and Osequera pitching for Brainerd.

Minot 010 503 000 -- 9 3 1

Brainerd 012 030 020 -- 8 13 3

Minot -- Tom Martin, Wade (7) and Lee Brandel; Brainerd -- Blake Platisha, Al Bomer (4), Paul LeChance (7) and Ryan Wickham. WP -- Martin. LP -- Bomer. Overall -- 25-28. Next game --Minot, N.D., vs. Brainerd, Mills Field, 7:05 tonight.

Mighty Gulls 12, Minot 1

Mike Ziroli threw a three-hitter against the Minot Greenheads to get the 12-1 win for the Brainerd Mighty Gulls on Saturday at Mills Field.

Ziroli pitched a complete game as he recorded 11 strikeouts and walked just one. Ziroli improved his record to 6-4 and leads the Gulls' staff in wins.

Offensively, the Gulls banged out 10 hits to score 12 runs.

Sam Steidl led the Gulls as he was 3-for-3 with a double, three runs scored and two RBI. Scott Beshears drove in two runs as did Casey Tornberg. Mike McCoy had two stolen bases and leads the Northwoods League with 25.

Minot 000 100 000 -- 1 3 5

Brainerd 130 020 06x -- 12 10 1

Minot --Scott Anderson, George Lehr (6), Furnald (8) and Kevin Cassidy; Brainerd --Mike Ziroli and Ryan Wickham. WP -- Ziroli. LP -- Anderson.