Not only does first baseman Matt Duenwald make great diving plays to tag out runners, knock in the final winning run in the eleventh but pitches the final two innings to earn his first win since the Clinton Administration.

The Devils scored one run in the bottom of the first on three consecutive singles by Brad Mazer, Andrew Engebretson and Matt Duenwald.

The lead was extended in the third. Andrew Pratt started the inning getting hit by a pitch. One out later, Pratt scored from first on a double by Engebretson. Enge would score without a Devil’s hit. Ryan Dwyer was hit by a pitch, followed by walks from Dan Boisclair and Vince Reuter.

The Diamond Devils scored another run in the bottom of the fourth. Brad Mazer walked with one out. Andrew Engebretson hit his second double of the game. Mazer scored on the play on a throwing error.

The Devil’s starting pitcher Mike Rippberger was able to scatter three singles over four innings to keep St. Paul off the board. But in the fifth, St. Paul broke the ice on a lead off walk and two singles to score a run.

With temps in the 90’s and mounting pitch count, St. Paul was able to chase the Devil’s starting pitcher from the game. St. Paul got a double to start the inning. A bloop single just past the second baseman followed. A hit by pitch would load the bases. With a single and a run scored, Craig Hawkinson came onto pitch. Craig struck out the first two batters he faced, gave up a single to allow a run and then got a fly ball to right to minimize the damage.  

The Devils scored five runs after two outs in the seventh to take a 9-3 lead. With one out Dan Boisclair walked. After another out Craig Hawkinson was hit by a pitch. KC Johnson singled to score Dan. Pat McPherson singled to score Craig. Brad Mazer double to score KC and Pat. Andrew Engebretson singled to score Brad.

St. Paul scored one run in the eighth on two hit by pitches and a single.

St. Paul scored two earned runs in the ninth but the three unearned runs sent the game into extra innings. The big hit for St. Paul was a two run homer down the left field line to tie the game.

Extra innings would end up being Duenwald’s day in the sun. Matt earned the victory by pitching the final two innings and hitting in the game winning run in the eleventh inning. In the final inning, KC led off with a double and moved up to third on a pass ball before Pat McPherson popped out to second. Due to their previous hitting displays, Brad Mazer and Andrew Engebretson were intentionally walked. With the infield pulled in, Matt delivered the final score of the game with a soft fly that landed just beyond the second baseman in the right field.