Photo by Sam Thiel Marshall’s Chase Douglas connects on a single during their game against Andover on Friday. Marshall Black fell to Andover 7-1.

MARSHALL – After getting into a rhythm on the offensive end its past few games, the Marshall Junior Legion Black baseball team looked to carry over its momentum into the opening day of its home tournament. Unfortunately for Marshall, it was Andover who would find their hitting groove early on, as the Huskies capitalized on a five-run second inning en route to a 7-1 victory on Friday evening at Legion Field.

“It was one bad inning; the second inning we gave up five and that was the difference in the ballgame,” Marshall coach Chace Pollock said. “We threw too many balls and allowed too many walks and those came back to haunt us.”

After a scoreless opening frame, Andover wasted little time getting on the basepaths in the second, using a walk and a single and an ensuing error to plate a run before an RBI single made it 2-0. The Huskies weren’t done there, though, loading the bases with no outs before a two-run double and an RBI sacrifice fly quickly pushed their advantage to 5-0.

Marshall would be able to put together a response in the next inning, as Josh Baker led off the bottom of the third with a double before advancing to third on a sacrifice from AJ Toulouse and coming into score on an RBI groundout from Chase Douglas to cut the deficit to 5-1.

Marshall had another opportunity to draw closer in the fifth, with Toulouse and Douglas connecting on back-to-back singles before advancing into scoring position on a wild pitch, but a popout would end the scoring threat for Marshall.

Andover quickly answered right back in the next half-inning, getting a leadoff single and a walk before an RBI single pushed the Huskies’ lead to 6-1. The Huskies later added a run in the seventh on a double steal to bring it to the 7-1 final.

Douglas led the way offensively with a 2 for 4 day at the plate with an RBI while Charlie Jacobson, Braden Meyer, Baker and Toulouse each added a hit.

Baker took the loss on the mound, going five innings while allowing six runs on seven hits and striking out one.

Marshall (9-3) will continue tournament play today against Alexandria at 9 a.m. before facing Fargo Post 400 later in the day at 4:30 p.m. Pollock said their biggest takeaway is

“We need to get better on the mound, that’s one area, and we’ll have some guys out there that have a lot of experience,” Pollock said. “We just need to get back into a rhythm of playing again and be ready to go.”

Andover 7, Marshall 1

Andover 050 001 1 – 7 9 2

Marshall 001 000 0 – 1 6 2

HITTING: Marshall (Douglas 2-4, RBI; Jacobson 1-3; Meyer 1-3; Baker 1-3; Toulouse 1-2).

PITCHING (IP-R-ER-H-BB-SO): Marshall (Baker 5-6-6-7-7-1; Schultz 2-1-0-1-0-1).