MAPLE LAKE - The Bluffton Braves pounded out 13 hits in a 5-3 victory over the Hutchinson Huskies to advance in the Minnesota State C baseball tournament.
Gunner Johnson, a draftee from Nimrod, pitched a complete game for the win allowing three runs, one earned, on only five hits. Johnson fanned 10 Huskies and walked two.
The meat of the Braves’ lineup accounted for six of the 13 Braves’ hits.
Cody Geiser, Kyle Dykhoff and Marc Sweere each had a pair of hits. Dykhoff’s two rips were both for doubles.
The trio accounted for four of Bluffton’s five runs.
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Geiser scored twice and stole a base.
Nic Goedon had a productive day batting in the eight-spot going 2-4 with a run scored.
Bluffton never trailed scoring single runs in the third and fourth innings for a 2-0 lead.
Hutchinson pinch runner Cody Nielsen scored on a RBI base hit by Mike Marquardt to cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the seventh.
Bluffton answered in the bottom half with three runs for a 5-1 lead.
The Huskies added a pair in the top of the ninth before Johnson closed out his complete game victory.
Kyle Messner took the loss pitching six innings. Messner allowed 12 hits and five earned runs. He walked one and struck out four.
The Braves will face the Lake Henry Lakers Sunday, August 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Delano Municipal Stadium in the second round.
