Grant Oldenburg knew he’d probably be pitching for the Greyhounds in their SpamTown Challenge opener, but he probably didn’t think he’d be pitching most of the game.

That’s what happened after Austin’s starter Weston Hansen went down with an early injury. Oldenburg shook off some early struggles and he held the Hayfield Heat to one run in his last three frames to pick up the win in an 8-7 Austin victory in Marcusen Park Thursday.

“I was a closer in college, so it wasn’t really a big deal to come in right away,” Oldenburg. “I got a little tired towards the end, but getting the first win of the tournament is always big.”

Oldenburg was pitching at University of Wisconsin-Plateville last spring, but after taking a job with Hormel in December he found out about the Hounds and the next thing he knew, he was pitching for Austin.

“I caught wind of the baseball team and I thought I’d come have some fun,” Oldenburg said. “From the first day I came in everybody was really friendly.”

The Hayfield Heat (6-7 overall) jumped out to a 5-2 lead after they scored three runs in the top of the third. Austin (6-5 overall) took the lead for good when in the bottom of the fifth when Tate Cummins came up with a two-out, two run single to make it 6-5 Austin.

Due to having league games right before and after the SpamTown Challenge, the Heat had to start Charlie Hinsch on the mound, a player who hand’t pitched in seven years.

“We wanted to compete,” Hayfield manager Kasey Krekling said. “We didn’t want to come out and make a fool of ourselves. I think we competed.”

Recent Hayfield grad Drew Streightiff had a big day at the plate as he went 4-for-4 with an RBI.

“Drew hit really well today,” Krekling said. “We’ve been taking a lot of batting practice and all of the time people come in and hit. It’s definitely paying off right now.”

The Hounds will play Shakopee Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Marcusen Park.

Heat 2 0 3 0 0 1 1 — 7

Hounds 0 2 2 2 2 0 X — 8

Hounds pitching: Grant Oldenburg (W) 6 IP, 7 H, 3 BB, 6 R, 5 K; Zach Schara (S) 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 K

Hounds hitting: Henry Fleek, 2-for-3, 2 RBIs, R, BB, SB; Nate Johnson, 2-for-4, double, RBI; Josh Evans, 1-for-2, double, 2 RBIs, 2 BB; Jeremy Williams, 1-for-3, R, HBP; Matt Cano, 1-for-4; Tyler Leopold, 1-for-2, SB, R, BB; Matt Raso, 0-for-3, R, HBP; Gabe Kasak, 0-for-2, R, BB; John Frein, 0-for-1, R, 2 BBs; Tate Cummins, 1-for-1, 2 RBIs

Heat hitting: Tyler Krekling, 0-for-3, RBI, R, SB, BB; Cole Kruger, 0-for-3, 2 R, BB; Charlie Hinsch, 3-for-4, double, triple, 2 RBIs; Sam Hinsch, 0-for-4, RBI; Kyle Van Wettering, 0-for-4, RBI, R, SB; Drew Streightiff, 4-for-4, RBI, R; Mark Evjen, 0-for-3; Jordan Bale, 1-for-3; Cam Rutledge, 1-for-2, BB