RAIDERS GET FIRST WIN OF SEASON, MELT POLARS

Hastings- The Hastings Raiders got their first win of the season in a bizarre 12-1 win over North Saint Paul that saw 5 combined hits, a plethora of walks, and a 5-inning run rule as the Raiders went to 1-1, 1-0 in the conference.

Gavin Odman had the bump for the Raiders and worked through the top of the first inning with ease, giving the Raiders a chance to take an early lead. Eddie Peine would be hit by a pitch to lead things off, and the Raiders would bat all the way around… without a single hit. Thanks to 5 walks, and 2 hit by pitches, the Raiders would score 4 times of the 10 batters in the first inning, and take a comfortable lead in the second.

Odman continued his confident pitching, and the Raiders would again score multiple runs without a hit in the 2nd, as North Saint Paul continued to walk batters. Up 6-0 in the bottom of the third, Hastings was left off the scoreboard for the first time and to the 4th we went. North Saint Paul would register the game’s first two hits and get their first run to make it 6-1, but Hastings responded in kind in the bottom of the fourth. Evan Nelson crushed a baseball and it disappeared into the woods in left field for a solo home run and a 7-1 lead. The Raiders then added 5 more runs in the inning, 3 of which were batted in by Mitch Iliff on a stand up double. The Raiders also scored on a few wild pitches. That gave the Raiders a 12-1 lead, and Odman would finish things off on the mound for the 5-inning complete game win.

Iliff had 4 RBIs to lead the way for the Raiders as the Raiders had 11 RBIs total in the contest. They also were walked 11 times and had just 3 hits.

Odman was fantastic, going 5 innings with 2 hits, 1 run, no earned, 1 walk and 7 strikeouts.

The Raiders return to action Friday against an experienced Two Rivers team that will look to make some noise in the Metro East Conference this season. Two Rivers fell to Mahtomedi 14-4 earlier in the week.

KDWA will carry every Hastings Baseball game, home and away, on our airwaves this season, and you can find our entire schedule at KDWA.com.
   

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