by Max Mercy

Reid Morin drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh for the walk-off game-winning RBI as Proctor defeated Ashland, 7-6, in a Lake Superior Conference baseball game played at Egerdahl Field on Fri., May 12. Blake Koski scored the winning run.

Jake Pioro (1-0 W-L, 0.00 ERA) picked up the win in his first varsity appearance. He pitched one and two-thirds innings of shutout, no-hit relief. He allowed one walk and had one strikeout. Luke Nordquist started and went five and one-third innings; he allowed six runs (one earned) on nine hits and three walks with five strikeouts.

Proctor took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Nordquist singled with one out and scored from first on an RBI double by John Aase. It was Aase's 11th double of the season which broke the school single-season record of 10 set by Tyler Pionk in 2010. Aase advanced to third on an error and scored on a passed ball.

Ashland went ahead 3-2 in the second. The Oredockers scored three runs on one hit and four Rails errors.

Ashland made the score 4-2 with a run in the third on no hits and two Proctor errors.

Proctor knotted the score at 4-4 with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third. Aase and Bryce Huffman walked to start the inning, which chased Ashland starter Earl Kraft. With Pat Barningham on in relief, Aase and Huffman executed a double steal. After Zach Gunderson walked to load the bases, Aase scored on a wild pitch. With one out, Ryan Lear walked to again load the bases. Jerid Parrott forced Lear out at second on an RBI fielder's choice, plating Huffman with the tying run.

Proctor took a 6-4 lead with two runs in the fourth. Aase drew a walk with two outs, stole second, and scored when Huffman reached on an error. Huffman scored from first on an RBI double by Gunderson.

Ashland's first three batters hit singles to lead off the sixth, including an RBI single by Collin Richmond, which chased Nordquist. Richmond, who advanced to second on an error on the play, attempted to take third also, but was thrown out for the first out of the inning. Pioro got a ground out, a reach on error, and a strikeout to end the threat, but the score was again tied, 6-6.

The only base runner Pioro allowed in the top of the seventh was on a walk.

Koski led off with a walk in the bottom of the seventh, and Lear also walked. With one out, Jordan Linder was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Morin walked in the winning run.

Jake Moe was the losing pitcher. He allowed one run on one hit and one walk in two innings, with three strikeouts. He faced one batter in the seventh.

Kraft and Wyatt O'Bey had two hits apiece for Ashland, and Kraft scored two runs.

Proctor managed just four hits, but two of them were RBI doubles. Rails batters drew 11 walks.

The Rails, 7-3, are back in action on Tues., May 16 at 4:30 p.m., versus Duluth Marshall in a conference game at Wade Stadium in Duluth.