by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor

Fargo South scored two runs in the top of the seventh and survived a bases loaded scare in the bottom of the seventh to secure a 2-0 road win at Thief River Falls Thursday, May 2.

Fargo South starting pitcher Austin Zurn and Thief River Falls starter Zach Westlund each took no-hit bids into the fourth inning of Thursday’s non-conference game at the Multi-Events Center.

Westlund retired the Bruins in order in the first. He pitched around an error in the second and walk in the third. He was two outs into the fourth inning when Fargo South designated hitter Tim Victor doubled to right field to record the Bruins’ first hit of the contest.

Thief River Falls was also stymied by Zurn, who recorded 14 straight outs to open the game. The Prowlers’ first hit came on a single to left by Zach Myhrer with two outs in the bottom of the fifth.

After a one-two-three top of the sixth, the Prowlers had a golden opportunity to score the first run of the game in the bottom of the inning. With one out in the inning, Aaron Bruggeman reached on a walk, and advanced to second on an error. He moved up third on a grounder to short by Keaden Kempert and the inning ended on a groundout by Kaleb Flaagan.

In the top of the seventh, Westlund got two quick outs via a groundout and strikeout, before surrendering three consecutive hits to Ben Montplaisir, Miles Ulschmid and Andrew Erickson, as the Prowlers fell behind 2-0.

Thief River Falls loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh to make it interesting. Grant Hartmann reached on a walk and moved to second on a single by Hunter Tabatt. Following a flyout by Brandon Bruggeman, both batters would move up a base as Zach Myhrer reached on an error.

With one out and the bases loaded, the Prowlers sent senior Austin Olson to the plate. The righty hit a grounder to second that almost made it into right field but was instead snagged by Erickson, who fired to shortstop Jake Bryant to get the out at second, with Bryant throwing the ball to Ulschmid at first for the final out.

“Sophomore Zach Westlund deserved a better fate,” said Thief River Falls Head Coach Tim Vagle. “Zach impressed in his first varsity start and our defense played outstanding. Their pitcher kept us off-balance all game and got a pop-up or ground ball when he needed it. Senior Keaden Kempert made several outstanding plays at short.

“When your pitcher throws strikes, it keeps the defense involved and ready to make plays and we did that today, unfortunately we just couldn’t string together much of anything offensively.”

Scoring                          r h e
FS…….. 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 – 2 4 2
TRF…… 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 2 1
Pitching – (Fargo South) A. Zurn, – W, 7 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 earned runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts; (TRF) Z. Westlund – L, 7 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts.
Offensive highlights – (Fargo South) T. Victor 1/3, double; A. Erickson 1/3, double; (TRF) H. Tabatt 1/3; Z. Myhrer 1/3.