WILLMAR -- Starbuck rallied from a six-run deficit by plating eight runs in the fourth and fifth innings as the Stars stunned Willmar 9-8 in a Cornbelt League amateur baseball game Sunday.
The sloppily-played game featured 11 errors; seven by Starbuck.
Mike Andreas gave Starbuck a quick 1-0 lead after driving in Ryan Gandrud, who led off the game with a double, with a single. The Rails (1-2, 1-2) answered in the bottom half by scoring four runs after having the first six guys in the batter order reached base.
Another three runs in the third inning allowed Willmar to take a 7-1 lead. Starbuck committed five of its seven errors in the first and third innings.
The Stars sent up nine batters to the plate in the fourth and scored five runs on just two hits, Gandrud's two-run single and an RBI double from Zach Lagred. Two Willmar errors, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly from Andy Toop manufactured three more runs in the fifth for Starbuck, allowing the Stars to regain the lead at 9-7.
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Willmar reliever Mark Krogstad faced just two batters over the minimum in the final four innings to keep the Rails within striking distance, but Starbuck starter Jon Hoffman was equally as tough. Hoffman did surrender an RBI double to Jordan Olson in the ninth before giving way to Nate Sutton.
Josh Dahlke then drew a walk against Sutton to give Willmar runners on second and first, but Matt Seehusen's attempt to move the runners with a sacrifice bunt failed when the bunt was popped up to the Starbuck first baseman.
Olson later advanced to third on Krogstad's fielder's choice before Krogstad stole second uncontested, but Sutton struck out Anthony Stern to end the game.
The two teams combined to make 11 errors and produce just 14 hits.
Andreas, Gandrud and Matt Daniels had two hits apiece for Starbuck.
The Rails are at Granite Falls on Friday before hosting Paynesville next Sunday.
Starbuck 9, Willmar 8
Starbuck 100 530 000 -- 9 8 7
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Willmar 403 000 001 -- 8 6 4
HITTING - Starbuck: Ryan Gandrud 2-for-5, 2b, 2 runs, 2 rbi; Zach Lagred 1-for-5, 2b; Mike Andreas 2-for-5, rbi; Matt Daniels 2-for-3, 2 bb's, 2 runs; Andy Toop 1-for-3, rbi ... Willmar: Matt Sagedahl 1-for-2; Lane Kleist 1-for-3; Jordan Olson 1-for-5, 2b, rbi; Josh Dahlke 1-for-4; Mark Krogstad 1-for-4; Anthony Stern 1-for-4
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Starbuck: Jon Hoffman (W) 8-5-8-6-3-9, Nate Sutton (S) 1-1-1-0-1-1 ... Willmar: Jordan Olson (L) 4-7-9-6-1-1, Mark Krogstad 5-1-0-0-2-3
