[Elendil]

Game Two


Leif Morris (7-6, 3.19)

vs.


Quinn Spence (7-10, 4.80)

September 3, 2011 - The Senators did not want to go back to Bethel down 2 games to 0, but to win the split they would likely need Spence to pitch one of his best games of the year.

Early on, both pitchers had their defense to thank for keeping the game scoreless. A succession of baserunners, particularly for Bethel, were left stranded or wiped out with double plays or, in one instance, a caught stealing. Nevertheless, Bethel did manage to push one across in the top of the 3rd when Spence walked in a run.

In the 6th inning, the Mushers were able to manufacture an insurance run from a leadoff double by Mansel, but the Senators responded with their first run of the game, when Willerton homered off Morris.

In the bottom of the 7th, with both starters still in the game, Juneau tied it up when Russo hit a solo shot off Morris.

Juneau brought in Stephane Landry to pitch the eighth, and he got through it without allowing a run.

Morris stayed in for Bethel. This time he made real trouble for himself, walking Dunsmore and Theriault to lead off the inning. Still he stayed in the game. Willerton hit a sac fly to move Dunsmore to third, and Dunsmore then scored on a two-out infield hit by Collette. Russo was retired to end the inning, but the damage was done. Juneau now had a 3-2 lead.

Bill Colwill came in to nail down the save for Juneau. A couple of singles, a walk, and a fielder's choice later, and Bethel had tied it up. On the fielder's choice, a groundball to second by Sean Heath, Collette had no play at home and so had to take it to second, allowing the run to score.

The game ended up going to extras. Colwill retired the Mushers in the top of the 10th, and Austin Oakley came in to pitch for Bethel. After retiring Dunsmore, he gave up an infield hit to Theriault on a bounder that the shortstop O'Donnell knocked down but couldn't quite handle in time to get the runner. Willerton grounded into a fielder's choice and found himself at first with two out. Then things started to break down for Oakley. Searle came in to pinch hit for the Senators and singled on a line drive to center. With runners on first and second, Collette rocketed a liner that just got past a diving Mansel at third, and Willerton came around to score before the throw could come in.

Final score: Juneau 4, Bethel 3. The Mushers were kicking themselves for their lack of situational hitting. They had left 14 men on base, compared to Juneau's 9, and grounded into 3 double plays!