Falcons Baseball Home Opener Ends in Tough Loss

Saturday, April 23. 2022 the Faribault Falcons baseball team had their home opener. It ended in a 8-6 loss to the Red Wing Wingers.

This spring has been anything but ideal for those involved in high school sports.

The Falcons have had trouble with pitchers throwing strikes. Senior left-handed pitcher Hunter Nelson started for Faribault going the first two innings with some control issues.

8 walks, 1 strikeout, no hits, two runs scored. The Wingers scored their first run on a bases loaded walk. They scored their second run in the second inning on a bases loaded passed ball.

Hudson Dillon took the mound in the third inning and allowed a two out RBI single.

After three innings Red Wing led 3-0 with all nine Faribault batters faced retired.

Right handed pitcher Reese Tripp started on the hill for Red Wing and went the first five innings, allowing 4 hits with 6 strikeouts and a walk. He threw 87 pitches, 58 for strikes.

Hunter Nelson broke up the no-hit perfect game with a triple to start the bottom of the 4th inning. He scored on a Aiden Tobin RBI single. Brad Sartor smacked a single to place runners at first and second with no outs.

Ayden Qualey hit the ball back to the pitcher who threw Tobin out at third base. Andy Donahue was walked to load the bases but a strikeout ended the scoring for the Falcons.

Back-to-back singles by Reid Hartmann and Jorgen Ulvenes opened the Wingers fifth inning. The courtesy runner for Hartmann at second base was picked off following a strikeout. With two out a passed ball scored Red Wing's 4th run of the game.

Jack Knutson and Hudson Dillon opened the bottom of the fifth with hits but Knutson was thrown out at second base.

Following a strikeout Tobin cracked a double to score Dillon making the score 4-2 in favor of the Wingers.

Sartor came in to pitch in the 6th inning and was greeted with a home run to left field by Tripp. Following back-to-back singles by Abe Reinitz and Cooper Chandler, Reid Hartmann hit a sacrifice fly to score a run. During a strikeout Chandler stole second base and advanced to third on a passed ball. Wyatt Gonsior singled scoring Chandler to make the score 7-2.

Michael Crone started the bottom of the 6th inning with a double to right field. Qualey doubled scoring Crone.

Andy Donahue singled but Qualey was held at second base.

Red Wing brought in Devin Maslowski-Kenner to pitch. Following a strike out there was a double play to end the Faribault threat.

In the top of the scheduled final inning the Wingers loaded the bases with a singles by Mitch Seeley and Deso Buck and a walk by Tripp. Their 8th run scored on a fielder's choice.

The Falcons showed great fight in the bottom of the 7th inning. With one out Nelson doubled,Tobin walked. Sartor doubled scoring Nelson and placing Tobin at third base.

Crone singled scoring Tobin and Sartor. Crone then advanced to second base on a passed ball.

He would end the game there because the next two batters were struck out.

Line totals for the game were:

Faribault 6 runs 13 hits 1 error
Red Wing 8 runs 12 hits 0 errors

Faribault (0-4) will host Mankato West (4-0) Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.

Red Wing (3-0) hosts Albert Lea (1-1) Monday at 5:00 p.m.

In other area baseball contests Saturday: