The Pirates' Soren Fering beats the high throw to make it safely to second base.

After opening their 2024 season with three consecutive losses on the road, the Blue Earth Pirates have now won two games in a row while playing on their home turf at Veterans Field in Blue Earth.

Blue Earth 11,

North Mankato 6

The Blue Earth Pirates picked up their second win of the season with an 11-6 victory over the North Mankato Gators in Blue Earth on Sunday, June 2.

The Gators took an early lead when they scored one run in the bottom of the first inning but the Pirates tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Brandyn Olsen walked with two outs in the inning and scored on a line drive single to left by Kane Malo.

The Pirates increased their lead to 4-1 when they pushed three more runs across the plate in the bottom of the second inning.

Blue Earth filled the bases with runners when lead-off batter TJ Stallman and Kaylan Legred walked and Tanner Nawrocki was hit by a pitch.

Another walk, this time to Ryan Madetzke, brought in Stallman with the Pirates’ second run of the game.

A sacrifice fly by Cody Sukalski scored Legred and allowed Nawrocki to move to third base and Madetzke to second. A walk to Hunter Bleess filled the bases again.

The North Mankato pitcher continued to have trouble finding the plate which led to Olsen walking on four pitches to bring home Nawrocki with Blue Earth’s fourth run of the contest.

The Pirates added another run in the bottom of the third inning to take a 5-1 lead but the Gators scored twice in the top of the fifth inning and added three more runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 6-5 lead.

Blue Earth regained the momentum in the bottom of the sixth inning and plated four runs to regain the lead by a 9-6 score.

Olsen led off the inning with his third walk of the game. A single by Malo and a walk to Garrett Anderson loaded the bases with zero outs in the inning.

Following a strike out, Legred walked on four pitches to bring home Olsen and tie the game at 5-5.

Logan O’Hara came to the plate to pinch hit for Nawrocki and delivered a line drive double to center field to bring home Malo, Anderson and Legred and put the Pirates on top 9-6.

Blue Earth added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to complete the scoring in their 11-6 triumph over North Mankato.

O’Hara went 1-for-1 at the plate and drove in three runs. Olsen reached base four times on three walks and one hit and scored three runs. Malo went 2-for-4 with a run batted in.

The Gators outhit the Pirates by a 7-4 margin but Blue Earth batters walked 17 times during the game.

Logan Jahnke started the game on the mound for the Pirates and threw four and two thirds innings. He gave up three runs (none earned) on five hits. He walked seven batters and struck out three.

Kade Hobbs relieved Jahnke in the fifth inning and picked up the win after pitching three and one third innings. He surrendered two hits while walking two batters and striking out one. He gave up three earned runs.

Cody Sukalski pitched the final inning. He walked a batter and had one strikeout and did not allow a hit.

Blue Earth 10, Wells 0

The Pirates played their home opener on Sunday, May 26, and picked up their first win of the season with a 10-0 triumph over the Wells Wildcats.

Veteran hurler Lee Hodges threw five innings to pick up the win. He allowed four hits, walked one batter and struck out three while holding the Wildcats scoreless.

Kade Hobbs pitched three innings and gave up two hits, walked two batters and struck out one.

Brandyn Olsen had a big day at the plate by going 2-for-3 while driving in four runs.

Kane Malo, Hodges, Kaylan Legred and Parker Meyers each had two hits during the game to help pace the Pirates’ 14-hit attack.

Blue Earth’s record now stands at 2-3. The Pirates opened the season with three straight road losses to Fairmont, Waterville and Austin.

Blue Earth was scheduled to play in a tournament at Pipestone the weekend of June 8. They are set to return to their home field on Wednesday June 12, when they will host Morristown. The are also scheduled to be at home on Friday, June 14, for a game against Austin.