Green Bay, Wis. (Nick Witwer) – After rain canceled multiple games last week, the Green Bay Blue Ribbons finally returned home to Joannes Stadium for the beginning of a five-game homestand that started with an exhibition matchup against the Manitowoc Bandits Tuesday night.
With no rain in sight, Green Bay got out to the early 1-0 lead in the first inning off a one-out double from shortstop Eason Hurd. After Manitowoc tied the game in the third, the Blue Ribbons would respond in the bottom of the inning with Hurd launching the ball over the wall on the first pitch he saw for a two-run home run and the 3-1 lead.
The Bandits, who hit a home run of their own, would once again tie the game after scoring a single run in both the sixth and seventh innings. In the bottom of the seventh, three straight one-out walks followed by a hit by pitch allowed Green Bay to take the lead back again going up 4-3.
This was the last lead change of the game as the Blue Ribbons, looking to tack on some insurance, would score six runs in the eighth inning. Three of the six runs came off a bases clearing triple from center fielder Landen Lozier. One run would score off an error and two more runs would score off a two-out double from third baseman Ethan Habetler to give Green Bay ten runs on the day.
Up big in the ninth inning, the Blue Ribbons held Manitowoc’s attempted fight back to just a single run locking in the 10-4 win, their 15th win of the summer.
At the plate for Green Bay on Tuesday, Eason Hurd finished 2-3 with a home run, a double, three RBIs, three runs scored, two walks, and a stolen base. Landen Lozier went 1-4 with a triple, three RBIs, one run scored, and a walk. Ethan Habetler finished 3-5 with two RBIs. Griffin Summers went 1-3 with three runs scored and two walks.
On the mound, Ian Dohms got the starting nod and went five solid innings giving up just one run on two hits while also striking out eight batters. Wyatt Fischer got the win after two innings of relief work. Alex Petasek pitched two innings striking out the side in the eighth and finishing the Bandits off in the ninth.
Now sitting at 15-5 overall, the Blue Ribbons will look to continue this strong start to the season when they take on the Sheboygan A’s Wednesday night at Joannes. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
