The Austin baseball team won its fourth straight game on Thursday, downing host Owatonna 4-3 in 11 innings.

Friday, April 14, 2000

The Austin baseball team won its fourth straight game on Thursday, downing host Owatonna 4-3 in 11 innings.

The Packers (4-1) were out-hit, 12-6, in the game, but countered with stellar pitching from Nick Rohne and Brent Holck.

"It was a great high school ballgame," said Austin coach Jerry Miller, who went with his starter and winning pitcher, Rohne, until the 11th inning.

"After the ninth he said he wanted to go one more," said Miller. "I think he could have thrown the 11th, but we’ve got to be able to count on other people."

Rohne allowed all 12 Huskie hits. But he struck out 12, including the final batters of the eight, ninth and 10th innings – innings in which Owatonna stranded the potential winning run at second base each time.

"Rohne made some big pitches," said Miller, who watched as Holck began the bottom of the 11th by striking out Craig Braaten.

Braaten, Owatonna’s lead-off hitter, had been a thorn in Austin’s side all game long, getting a double and a triple.

Austin took the lead in the top half of the 11th, when Mark Toov’s suicide squeeze bunt worked perfectly, scoring Jon Holtorf from third.

"They knew it was coming," Miller said. "But we were able to execute it."

Miller has long been fond of the suicide squeeze.

"It’s got to be the right situation," Miller said. "Mark’s one of our best bunters.

"I wouldn’t have done that with a lot of other people."

Austin hosts Forest Lake on Saturday at Marcusen Park at 1 p.m.