The Austin Greyhounds opened the Class B State Amateur Baseball Tournament in exciting fashion as they beat Cold Spring 3-2 in 11 innings in Litchfield Saturday.

Matt Raso drilled a solo homer over the left field to put Austin up for good in the top of the 11th inning after Daniel Bollingberg singled in a run in the top of the ninth inning to force extra innings.

Logan Spitzack picked up the win by pitching five and one-thirds innings of scoreless baseball in relief.

Tyler Nelson kept the Hounds in the game in the bottom of the 10th inning when he stole a hit and made big running catch in left center field when the Springers had the winning run on second base.

“We didn’t make any fielding mistakes and we subdued any potential danger when Cold Spring pieced together runners by making great plays,” Hounds manager John Frein said. “The pitching for us was outstanding.”

The Hounds have advanced to the eight-team double elimination portion of the tournament and they will play Shakopee in Dassel 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Hounds pitching: Nels Nelson 5 2/3 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 2 ER, 4 K, 1 HBP; Logan Spitzack (W), 5 1/3 IP, 3 H, 4 BB, 0 R, 6 K

Hounds hitting: Nate Conner, 0-for-5; Jordan Hart, 2-for-4, BB; Matt Cano, 1-for-5; Tyler Nelson, 1-for-5; Spitack, 0-for-5, R; Matt Raso, 2-for-3, RBI, HR, R, BB; Daniel Bollingberg, 2-for-5, RBI; John Frein, 0-for-3, 2 BBs; Chris May, 0-for-3, BB