Photo by Sam Thiel Marshall’s Jordan Mernaugh reacts after scoring the go-ahead run during their Section 2AAA tournament game against New Ulm on Saturday. The Tigers defeated the Eagles 6-2.

MARSHALL – The past two meetings for the Marshall baseball team against New Ulm has been a tale of different directions, with the Eagles hold the Tigers to just three hits in a 9-3 win for New Ulm before Marshall broke out for double-digit hits in a 13-5 victory a couple of days later.

This time, the Tigers made sure the momentum went in their direction, as Marshall used key two-out hitting and a solid pitching performance from Isaac Schmitt to help top the No. 5 seeded Eagles 6-2 in the Section 2AAA opener on Saturday at Legion Field.

Marshall coach Chace Pollock said he was pleased with the overall effort and felt they did enough on both sides of the field to come away with the win.

“We had a great team effort; Isaac led the way on the mound and did a nice job for us and our bats did enough,” Pollock said. “We came up with some clutch hitting and were able to build a lead and hang on.”

Both Schmitt and New Ulm starter Braden Zimmerman found themselves deadlocked in a pitcher’s duel early on, only allowing one combined hit to start. Marshall would strike first on the offensive end in the bottom of the second, using back-to-back doubles from Kaleb Welvaert and Andrew Mulso to give the Tigers a quick 1-0 lead.

New Ulm was able to find an answer in the top of the fourth, as Nolan Drill was hit by a pitch and Zimmerman connected on a single before Cole Ranweiler smacked a single to plate a run to tie things up at 1-1. The Eagles then brought in another run on a pickoff attempt and ensuing rundown to put New Ulm in front.

That lead wouldn’t hold for very long, though, as Marshall came right back with an effective inning of its own. Despite getting two quick outs, the Tigers put baserunners aboard with a Mulso walk and a hit by pitch from Jordan Mernaugh before both came around to score on a double by Matthew Hmielewski. One batter later, Jackson Hughes found the outfield with a single to bring in another run to give Marshall the lead for good at 4-2.

An inning later, the Tigers got a leadoff bunt single from Cody Greve and a walk from Schmitt before advancing on a sacrifice bunt by Nick Macchio. Marshall would then score on a wild pitch and an RBI groundout by Welvaert to extend its advantage to 6-2.

Hmielewski led the way for the Tigers with a 1 for 2 day at the plate with two RBI while Hughes, Welvaert and Mulso each added a hit and an RBI.

Pollock said their key on offense was staying disciplined at the plate and battling for the right pitch to hit.

“We hit some balls hard into the right-center gap and our guys had good approaches at the plate. Matt came up big for us with a double and we put some good swings on the ball and it was a good day to hit,” Pollock said. “Give our guys credit, up-and-down the lineup we battled through some at-bats; Jackson had a big at-bat to plate another run and he saw at least 8-10 pitches there.”

Schmitt earned the victory on the mound for Marshall, tossing a complete-game while allowing two runs on five hits and striking out seven.

Pollock said he felt Schmitt continued to improve as the afternoon went on and stayed competitive.

“I thought he got better as the game went on. After they scored two on him, I thought he got better and that was good to see,” Pollock said. “That’s the competitive nature in Isaac, he’s a competitor and wants to win and actually got better with his pitch count which helped.”

Marshall (12-9) will advance to the next round and will face No. 1 Mankato East on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Mankato. Pollock said their biggest takeaway was just getting out in the right direction to start the playoffs and they’re ready for the next challenge.

“It’s always good to start out on the right foot. It’s easier said than done, but you’ve got to win the first to get to the next,” Pollock said. “We’re advancing, we’re moving on in the right side of the bracket, so we’re excited about the opportunity.”

No. 4 Marshall 6, No. 5 New Ulm 2

New Ulm 000 200 0 – 2 5 1

Marshall 010 320 x – 6 6 0

HITTING: Marshall (Greve 1-4; Welvaert 1-3, RBI: Mulso 1-2, RBI; Steinbach 1-1; Hmielewski 1-2, 2 RBI; Hughes 1-3, RBI).

PITCHING (IP-R-ER-H-BB-SO): Marshall (Schmitt 7-2-2-5-2-7).