ROCORI Drops Doubleheader to Bemidji

COLD SPRING -- The ROCORI Spartans baseball team opened up another week of the 2021 season on Tuesday, April 27 against the Bemidji Lumberjacks.

ROCORI welcomed in Bemidji to the Cold Spring Baseball park for a pair of games in a battle between Section 8-3A oppositions, with the Lumberjacks coming away with victories in both games of the doubleheader.

In the first game of the doubleheader, the Lumberjacks came away with a 10-3 victory despite the Spartans making a late-game push to try and take Game 1. ROCORI scored three runs in the fifth inning to bring the game within one run, but ultimately fell in the opening game of the doubleheader.

The Spartans were led at the plate by Jayden Philippi with one hit and two RBI, while Connor Clark and Luke Humbert also tacked on a hit for ROCORI. Brady Blattner started the game on the mound, pitching four innings and giving up just three earned runs. Clark and Humbert rounded out the final three innings in relief for the Spartans on the hill.

In Game 2, Bemidji made another late-game push to take down ROCORI 10-0 and earn a sweep of the doubleheader.

For the Spartans, Jayden Philippi, Brady Linn and Luke Humber each recorded a hit in the contest. Linn also took the mound getting the start for ROCORI, pitching the first five inning and tallying five strikeouts. Cam Miller and Nick Howen combined to pitch the final inning in relief for the Spartans.

With the pair of defeats, ROCORI falls to 3-3 overall on the season, while remaining at 2-1 in Central Lakes Conference play and dropping to 1-3 in games against opponents in Section 8-3A.

The Spartans will return to action on Thursday, April 29 when they hit the road to face off against the St. Cloud Apollo Eagles at 7 p.m. at the St. Cloud MAC (Dick Putz Field).