"We came out a little tight," coach Wayne Gripentrog said. "We had to get the first couple of innings out of the way, and then we played real well after that."
In the top of the first inning, Wahpeton scored a run.
 photo by Scott Sorum • Daily News Advertisement |
He scored from third base when Travis Thomas got caught in a rundown between first and second after Thomas also reached on a walk.
Leading 1-0, Gripentrog took the mound for Wahpeton in the bottom of the first.
Gripentrog pitched a complete game, but struggled in the bottom of the second inning when Bismarck scored three runs and led 3-1.
Wahpeton got back in front with a five run inning in the top of the third.
Zach Reiff started the inning by reaching on a walk.
Parker Sirek and Seth Meide each reached on errors and Gripentrog got Wahpeton's first hit of the game afterward.
With the bases loaded, Alex Lunneborg hit a double to right field that drove in two runs.
Travis Thomas got a hit and Ethan Meide reached on another Bismarck error as Wahpeton sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning and led 6-3.
Bismarck got a run back in the bottom of the fourth to make it 6-4, but Wahpeton turned a double play to get out of a jam by only allowing the single run in the inning.
"When we turned that double play," coach Gripentrog said, "It got us out of what could have been a big inning. I think our confidence really grew from there."
Bismarck got only two more hits after the third inning, and the Wahpeton defense got seven ground ball outs the rest of the way, including a double play in the bottom of the seventh inning to snuff out potential Bismarck rally.
Wahpeton advanced to play the Fargo Americans Saturday night in the second round of the tournament.
The game was not complete by press time.
Wahpeton will continue in the tournament Sunday regardless of the outcome of the Saturday night game.
Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. The Daily News is not liable for messages from third parties.
DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
* Comments unrelated to the story.
Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in wahpetondailynews.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the The Daily News. The Daily News does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized The Daily News spokespersons.
Thank you for your comments!