Tea Steam splits pair of games

The Tea Steam earned a dominant shutout victory before falling in an extra-inning thriller during a pair of recent games.

On Thursday, July 9, the Steam rolled to a 10-0 win over the Volga Cormorants behind a strong pitching performance and timely hitting.

Billy Mote started on the mound and struck out six Volga hitters while helping keep the Cormorants off the scoreboard through five innings. Nathan Babb came on in relief to finish the shutout, striking out three. 

Tea jumped out to an early lead in the first inning as Henry Hammrich and Nathan Babb each drove in runs. The Steam added four more runs in the fourth inning with RBI hits from Cameron Jensen and Dawson Portner to extend the advantage to 6-0.

The offense continued to produce late in the game, scoring two runs in the sixth inning before closing out the contest with two more in the seventh. Cole McKinney delivered a two-run double in the final frame to cap the 10-run performance.

On Sunday, July 12, the Steam battled the Sioux Falls Flying Squirrels in an 11-inning marathon before coming up just short in a 3-2 loss.

After Sioux Falls scored in the opening inning, Tea answered in the third when Henry Hammrich drove in Kade Russell with a sacrifice fly. The Steam took a 2-1 lead in the fourth as Kade Russell singled home Billy Mote.

The Flying Squirrels tied the game in the sixth inning, sending the contest into extra innings. Both teams traded scoreless frames until Sioux Falls pushed across the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th. Tea threatened in the bottom half but was unable to bring home the tying run. On the mound was Cameron Jensen striking out six batters over eight innings of play. Cole McKinney struck out four batters and Wilson Munzke one batter. 

Tea will be in action Sunday, July 19, at the Harrisburg Woodies tournament before returning home on Thursday, July 23, to host the Brookings Cubs.