Brandyn Olsen slides under the tag of the Lake Crystal catcher during the first inning of the Blue Earth Pirates’ seven inning, 17-7 triumph over the Lakers.

Brandyn Olsen hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning and Ryan Madetzke hit a bases-clearing double to power the Blue Earth Pirates to a seven inning, 17-7 win over the Lake Crystal Lakers at Veterans Field in Blue Earth on Wednesday, June 14.

The Pirates made the most of three hits and a Lakers’ error to take a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

Olsen’s blast came in the bottom of the sixth inning and put Blue Earth on top 9-6. After Pirates’ pitcher Kade Hobbs retired the Lakers in order in the top of the seventh inning, the home team scored eight runs in the bottom of the seventh, capped off by Madetzke’s hard-hit line drive to center field which scored three runs to end the game with a 10-run Pirates’ lead.

Blue Earth’s next home games are against Waseca at 7:30 p.m. on June 21, and versus Waterville at 2 p.m. on June 24.

Pirates 15, Royals 5

(Seven innings)

The Blue Earth Pirates baseball team must have been happy to see the month of May come to an end.

After starting the season with five consecutive losses, all in May, the Pirates have strung together three straight wins, all in June.

Blue Earth’s third win of the season was against the Minnesota Lake Royals on Sunday, June 11, by a score of 15-5 in seven innings.

The Royals had won an earlier meeting 6-4 on May 28.

The rematch, played on the Royals’ home field, found the teams locked in a 2-2 tie after two complete innings.

Blue Earth broke the tie in the top of the third inning when they pushed eight runs across the plate to take a 10-2 lead.

The Pirates added three more runs in the top of the fourth and single runs in both the sixth and seventh innings.

Meanwhile, Minnesota Lake scored one run in the bottom of the third inning and two in the fourth inning.

With Blue Earth leading 15-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, Minnesota Lake needed to score to keep the game going but Pirates’ relief pitcher Ryan Vereide did not yield any runs and Blue Earth went home with a 15-5, seven-inning victory.

Brandyn Olsen worked the first five innings on the mound to pick up the win. He allowed five runs on five hits while walking four and striking out five Royal batters.

Vereide pitched the sixth and seventh innings and did not give up a run. He allowed one hit, walked one batter and struck out two.

Olsen had a good day at the plate with a walk and three hits, including a home run. He scored twice and drove in four runs.

Logan O’Hara drove in three runs. He walked three times and was only charged with one at bat. He made the most of his one hit when he hit a round-tripper for his second home run of the season.

Hunter Bleess went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple. He scored three times and drove in three runs.

“Hunter has been hitting the ball real well,” BEA manager Olsen said. “He is one of our top hitters so far this season.”

Kaylan Legred, TJ Stallman and Parker Meyers also had multiple-hit games. Legred had three hits while Stallman and Meyers each had two. One of Stallman’s hits was a double.

A total of nine different Blue Earth batters got hits against Minnesota Lake.