SPICER -- Benson scored three runs in the sixth and seventh innings after New London-Spicer tied the game in the fifth to outlast the Wildcats 7-4 in its season opener Tuesday.
Carl Hoffman singled and Tyler Krienke walked in the sixth before scoring on two NLS errors to break a 4-4 tie. The Braves then added an insurance run in the seventh.
Benson had taken a 4-0 lead after the top half of the first on just two hits as NLS starter Tanner Thunstedt issued five walks.
NLS broke through with four runs of its own in the fifth. Steven Ammerman and Nick Bergeson opened the frame with back-to-back singles and Tanner Tobkin drew a walk to load the bases. Grant Vagle drew another walk allowing Ammerman to score and Ryan Vraa followed with a two-run single. Benson then committed an error to bring the score to 4-4. Anthony Berreau, the third Benson pitcher to throw in the fifth, escaped further harm and finished out the game to earn the win.
NLS outhit Benson 5-4, but the Wildcats committed four errors to Benson's one. Benson's Luke Schwarz and NLS' Mitch Ejnik had two hits each.
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Schwarz started on the mound for Benson before exiting in the fifth.
Benson 7, NLS 4
Benson (1-0) 400 002 1 -- 7 4 1
NLS (1-1) 000 040 0 -- 4 5 4
HITTING - Benson: Matt Ahrndt 1-for-4; Luke Schwarz 2-for-4, 2b, rbi; Carl Hoffman 1-for-2 ... New London-Spicer: Steven Ammerman 1-for-4; Nick Bergeson 1-for-4; Mitch Ejnik 2-for-4; Ryan Vraa 1-for-3, 2 rbi
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Benson: Luke Schwarz, Matt Ahrndt, Anthony Berreau (W) ... New London-Spicer: Tanner Thunstedt (L) 6-3-6-4-7-0, Grant Vagle 1-1-1-0-0-2
