Photo by Kim Nelson: Marshall's Chase Douglas steps up to bat against Bird Island at American Legion Field on Sunday. The Bullfrogs claimed an 11-4 win, and the A's enter regional playoffs as fourth seed beginning Aug. 3 in Willmar.

MARSHALL — The Marshall A’s dropped their last regular season game to the Bird Island Bullfrogs at American Legion Field on Sunday. Despite solid pitching from Logan Tomasek with three strikeouts through the first 4 2/3 innings, along with another three scoreless innings from Karson Rowe, top-seeded Bird Island’s active hitting and limitation of errors was too much for Marshall to overcome in the Bullfrogs’ 11-4 victory.

The A’s have secured the fourth seed in the Corn Belt League in the upcoming Region 4C playoffs and will play County Line’s first seed on Aug. 3 in Willmar at 10 a.m.

“They just hit it,” assistant manager Zach Olson said. “Bird Island, they’ve always been a great hitting team.”

The night began with Tomasek on the mound and the Bullfrogs’ Braeden Tersteeg hit an immediate home run over the left-field fence on the first pitch of the game. But, with two Tomasek strikeouts and a pop-fly catch at shortstop, the A’s quickly put any Bird Island offense momentum to a stop and responded with a run of their own.

Ryan Van Moer hit a line drive to right field and got to third after Wes Sarsland hit past the Bullfrogs’ first baseman. Van Moer then scored on a Cody Wichmann sacrifice fly to tie up the game.

Peyton Grant kept the early energy going, dropping a ball between left and center field to bring in Sarsland, and the A’s went into top of the second up 2-1.

Tomasek struck out Bird Island’s Nic Taylor to alleviate the pressure of players on first and second after hitting a batter. Tersteeg hit a line drive to center and brought in Shawn Dollerschell for the Bulldogs to tie the game 2-2 going into the bottom of the second.

Bird Island’s Jordan Sagedahl started the top of the third with a home run past center field, taking the lead back up 3-2. Two pop fly outs later and a play at first quickly limited any other runners from touching base.

Bird Island started to take control in the fourth, bringing in seven runs.

Tersteeg hit a triple to left field to bring in Taylor, who originally was on first base after a dropped fly ball near the mound. A double from Trent Athmann and another home run to left field from Sagedahl created a five-run cushion for the Bullfrogs, up 7-2 as Marshall changed pitchers with Charlie Jacobson taking the mound with two outs

With loaded bases after a couple more Bulldog hits, Zeke Walton hit a grounder to left field to bring in two runners. A wild pitch brought in one more, as the A’s finished the last out and went to bat down 10-2.

“Just relax, keep throwing strikes,” Olson said about what he told his pitchers. “It’s baseball. They fall your way, then sometimes they go against you … Get a couple of breaths, just relax, keep throwing strikes and we will get defense behind you.”

Marshall needed a powerful response. Yet, a quick strikeout, caught foul ball at home and center field catch got rid of any chance to do so.

The Bulldogs brought in one run in the top of the fifth, creating an 11-2 lead.

Rowe stepped in for Marshall on the mound, to attempt to slow Bird Island’s offense down by throwing a scoreless sixth inning.

Dollerschell and Walton both hit single grounders to left field for the Bullfrogs but did not get further after three defensive catches from the A’s.

The score stood at 11-2 in Bird Island’s favor going into the bottom of the sixth.

Wichmann attempted to get Marshall’s offense going after getting to first base on a Bird Island error and stealing second. He was able to run in after a hit from Braxton Koster.

Rowe pitched another scoreless inning in the seventh and eighth, with both innings making outs from caught fly balls and plays at first.

Koster, Cowden and Dillon Loft had the bases loaded for Marshall in the bottom of the eighth with AJ Toulouse up to the plate. He hit to right field, which was caught, but Koster tagged third to run home.

Cowden was thrown out at third, and the A’s went into the ninth inning down 11-4.

Owen Kesteloot stepped in as pitcher for Marshall in the top of the ninth, not allowing any runs.

The game was ultimately decided from Bird Island’s strong offense in the fourth inning.

Marshall finishes 11-10 on the season, dropping the last four in a row. With focus on going in with a competitive mindset, they will enter the regional playoffs with aggressive intent.

“We have got to come ready to play,” Olson said of their playoff mindset. “Defensively, offensively, pitching and mentally, we just got to come to play. It’s a whole different ball game … It’s the real deal. You win, you keep playing but if you lose, you’re going home.”

Despite the loss, the fans continued to cheer, socialize, engage in drawings for merchandise and showed up all season to support the A’s.

“Keep on coming out, we love playing for them (the fans),” Olson said. “It’s always good to see young kids, grandparents and families. Can’t thank them enough, they’re the best supporters.”