While the game didn’t end up with the Jackson Bulls being able to add a notch in the win column, they did show that they can compete with the elite amateur baseball teams in Region 13C Sunday at Wacker Field.
The Bulls had a 3-2 lead after seven innings before Luverne scored two in the eighth and then held off Jackson 4-3.
The Redbirds lead the Gopher League with a 9-0 record, while the Bulls are second in the First Nite League with a 7-3 mark.
Each team scored a run in the first inning.
Skyler Wenniger doubled and later score on Ben Serie’s groundout in the top of the first for the Redbirds.
The Bulls tied the game in the home half of the first as Easton Bahr and Andy Wolf walked and then advanced on a groundout. Bahr stole home on the throwback to the pitcher to get Jackson on the board.
Luverne would take a 2-1 lead in the third as Serie recorded his second RBI as he singled to score Ethan Beyer, who had walked.
The Bulls tied it up again in the home half of the fifth as Bahr singled, moved to second on a ground out, stole third and scored on Ben Spaeth’s sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Jackson took the lead in the bottom of the seventh as Payton Handevidt reached on an error, Bahr bunted him to second and he went to third on a wild pitch. After a groundout, Evan Olesen singled to drive in the go ahead run.
Luverne scored two in the top of the eighth as Casey Sehr had an RBI double and Derek Lundgren squeezed in a run.
The Bulls went down in order in the eighth inning and did get the tying run to second in the bottom of the ninth, but he was stranded there.
Jackson had three hits, one each by Bahr, Olesen and Nate Monson.
Gavin Jacobsen pitched seven-plus inning and took the loss. Olesen went the final two innings.
The Bulls are home again Wednesday, hosting FNL leader Fairmont at 7:30 p.m.
Standings
First Nite League
Fairmont Martins 8-2
Jackson Bulls 7-3
Lakefield Frogs 6-4
Windom Pirates 6-4
Fox Lake Foxes 4-7
Heron Lake Lakers 2-6
Mountain Lake Lakers 2-9
Gopher League
Luverne Redbirds 9-0
Milroy Irish 7-2
Hadley Buttermakers 5-3
Worthington Cubs 3-7
Pipestone A’s 1-7
Ruthton Royals 1-7