Voigt homers twice as Blue Sox rally past Hounds
Published 11:26 pm Wednesday, July 23, 2014
The Austin Blue Sox Brian Voigt rounds third after a solo shot against against the Greyhounds Wednesday night at Marcusen Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Austin Blue Sox may be young, but they are also resilient.
The Blue Sox used a five-run eighth inning to come back and beat the Austin Greyhounds 7-4 in Marcusen Park Wednesday.
Austin Blue Sox shortstop Jamie Adams looks to relay after getting the force out on the Greyhounds’ Nels Nelson Wednesday night at Marcusen Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Blue Sox tied the game on a sacrifice fly by Lukas Anderson, Marcus Stoulil blasted a two-out RBI triple to right field and Brian Voigt sealed the rally with a towering two-run homer that went well past the 344 feet sign in right field.
“Even counting this past spring in college, that was the longest home run I’ve seen,” Stoulil said of Voigt’s eighth inning homer. “It was hammered and that put the knife in it. When a guy can do that and turn a softball swing to a baseball swing with that kind of power, it’s amazing.”
Voigt also homered in the first inning to put the Blue Sox (9-10 overall, 2-2 Section) up 1-0 in the bottom of the first. The former Southland, Riverland and Augustana slugger said he’s starting feel his swing come back as he is playing in amateur games more often.
“Getting two games in a row definitely helped my swing. I had a couple of good swings along with some bad ones, but the good ones are the ones that count,” Voigt said. “[The second one] felt good coming off the bat and it was a no doubter. The timing was good and it’s always good to take one away from the Hounds.”
The Blue Sox’s eighth inning rally started simple enough as Nate Wilson reached on an error and Brandon Rector bunted for a single. Then a Jaimie Adams bunt turned into a disaster for the Hounds (10-11 overall, 0-2 Section) as they threw the ball away and the Blue Sox scored a run and had runners on second and third with no outs.
When Stoulil came to the plate with a runner on and two outs in a 4-4 game, he had to take a minute to calm down.
“My goal was to settle myself down,” Stoulil said. “With two outs I just wanted to put the ball in play. The pitch was up and away, I hit it and it worked out.”
Austin Greyhounds pitcher Weston Hanson pitches against the Blue Sox Wednesday night at Marcusen Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Hounds had taken a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth when Tyler Leopold blooped a single to score a run and Josh Evans drew a bases loaded walk. The Hounds pushed that lead to 4-2 in the top of the eighth when Nels Nelson delivered a two-out, RBI single.
“We’re young and guys like to get out and get after it,” Voigt said. “They’re showing the mental side of it now where they can let go of mistakes and move on.”
Blue Sox manager Josh Kunze said the his team is a good squad when it has its full roster intact. Cody Schact allowed three runs in six innings and Brady Banse picked up the win in relief.
“When we get our full compliment of guys, we’re a good team. Brian Voigt adds legitimacy to the middle of our lineup and it showed tonight,” Kunze said. “We’ll take 2-2 in the Section at this point. We have to defend our home field obviously and beating the Greyhounds was part of that. We’re still only four games into a nine-game schedule and a lot can change.”
The game was a special one for Stoulil as it was the first time he had ever played against his long-time AHS teammate Gabe Kasak. Kasak doubled over Stoulil in right field to knock in a run and tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth.
“He hit that one over my head and I gave kudos to him because he burned me,” Stoulil said. “We’ll always be friends, but when we play against each other, it’s business.”
Hounds 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 — 4 12 4
Blue Sox 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 X — 7 7 1
Blue Sox pitching: Cody Schact, 6 IP, 8 H, 4 BB, 3 ER, 4 K, 1 HBP; Brady Banse (W) 3 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 3 K
Blue Sox hitting: Lukas Anderson, 0-for-4, RBI; Marcus Stoulil, 1-for-4, triple, RBI, R, SB, BB; Brian Voigt, 2-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBIs, 2 R; Mark Harber, 0-for-3, 2 BBs; Cody Meyer, 1-for-4, R, SB; Nate Wilson, 2-for-4, R; Brandon Rector, 1-for-2, RBI, R, BB; Jaimie Adams, 0-for-4, R; Quinn Yocom, 0-for-2, BB; Josh Kunze, 0-for-1
Hounds pitching: Weston Hanson, 6 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 1 ER, 4 K; Grant Oldenburg (L) 2 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 K
Hounds hitting: Henry Fleek, 2-for-6, double; Andy Swank, 2-for-6, R; Tyler Leopold, 1-for-4, BB; Matt Cano, 2-for-4, double, BB; Josh Evans, 1-for-3, RBI, R, 2 BBs; Joe Kroc, 1-for-3, R, HBP; Nels Nelson, 2-for-4, RBI, BB; Gabe Kasak, 1-for-5, double, RBI, SB; John Frein, 0-for-3, R, 2 BBs
