The Southland baseball team got a strong starting pitching effort from Zach Stratton, and birthday-boy Nate Bergene closed the door in the Rebels' season-opening 4-2 victory at Chatfield Friday night.

Stratton scattered six hits and six strikeouts over six and two-thirds innings before allowing a pair of Gopher runners to move into scoring position in the bottom of the seventh. Bergene, the All-Conference catcher for Southland, shed his protective gear and got on the mound.

Bergene blew away both Chatfield batters he faced, stranding the tying runs on base.

Southland took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, benefitting from three walks and a hit batsman by Chatfield starter Tyler Wright. The Rebels' two insurance runs in the top of the seventh paid immediate dividens as Chatfield fought back for its two runs in the bottom half.

Bergene was one of seven Southland batters with a hit. All of the Rebels' seven hits were singles. Jared Gilles, Derek Berndt, Adam Landherr, Pete Churchill, Adam Nagele and Chad Wilson all reached with singles in the season-opening win.

Southland hosts Rushford-Peterson in a cross-conference doubleheader Monday at 4:30 p.m. in Adams.

Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at :mailto:sports@austindailyherald.com.