Baseball: Massive first inning propels Fort to 11-1 win over Oregon

OREGON — Braden Hausen and Jordan Zahn drove in three runs each as Fort Atkinson’s baseball team run-ruled host Oregon 11-1 in five innings in Badger Large play on Thursday.

The Blackhawks could not have scripted a better first inning. Fort sent 12 guys to the dish, scoring seven times on six hits.

Hausen and Braeden Hoth both drew walks before a single off the bat of Brogan Bosch plated a run. Cleanup man Gavin Kanters followed with an RBI double to left field. Zahn helped his own cause with a two-run double to left, pushing the lead to 4-0. Jackson Leibman drew a walk and Cam Haagensen singled to re-load the bases. With one out, Trent Wilson bunted for a hit, scoring courtesy runner Drew Enger.

A fielder’s choice by Hausen tacked on another run and an RBI single by Hoth capped the rally.

“Great response by our guys after a disappointing game on Tuesday,” Fort baseball coach Andy Schwantes said. “They came out with tons of energy and got things going offensively right away. We were ready to put pressure on Oregon from the start and our first couple hitters set the tone for the entire first inning.”

Fort’s third inning started with consecutive singles by Haagensen, Mason Ketterhagen, Wilson and Hausen. Wilson drove in a run and Hausen plated a pair before scoring on Zahn’s two-out hit up the middle to make it 11-0.

Zahn pitched a two-hitter with six strikeouts, one walk to earn the decision. The fourth-inning run he allowed was unearned. Zahn struck out the side in the first inning, picked off a runner at second base in the second and retired 10 of the final 12 hitters he faced for the Blackhawks (4-7, 2-4 in conference).

“Jordan Zahn kept the momentum going on the mound and overwhelmed their hitters, the whole game really, with a ton of strikes,” Schwantes said. “Our defense made some great plays behind him. This was as close to a complete game as we have played so far.”

Fort is scheduled to play Arrowhead on Friday at Wisconsin Brewing Company Park in Oconomowoc before a conference doubleheader versus Watertown at Jones Park on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.

FORT 11, OREGON 1 (5)Fort 704 00 — 11 13 1

Oregon 000 10 — 1 3 3

Leading hitters — FA: Zahn 2x3 (2B), Haagensen 2x3, Wilson 2x3, Kanters (2B).

Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) — FA: Zahn W; 5-2-1-0-1-6; O: Soule L; 1-6-7-7-3-2, McCarthy 3-5-4-4-0-1, Wess 1-0-0-0-0-0.