Bulldogs crush visitors from up north, outscoring International Falls and Comrwell-Wright 25-5

Friday and Saturday, the Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton baseball team hosted a pair of teams from far up north in Minnesota. Friday, the Bulldogs welcomed International Falls to Janesville, defeating the Broncos 10-0, before taking on the Cromwell-Write Cardinals Saturday, earning a 15-5 win.

With the victories, JWP is now 5-5 (2-3 GC) on the season.

Friday evening, Ty Melchior started the game on the mound for the Bulldogs and earned the shutout allowing three hits in four and two-thirds innings while striking out three. Lucas Morsching earned the final out of the day.

International Falls never put a true threat together and after a scoreless first inning, the Bulldogs would consistently put runs on the board with two in the second, two in the third and six in the fourth, paving the way for the 10-0 victory.

Batting out of the leadoff spot, Chase Gerdts went 2-4 with two runs batted in while Caleb Quast went 2-2 with a walk and two runs scored. Cole Blomstrom went 1-1 with two walks and two runs scored out of the DH spot and Melchior drew a pair of walks while also going 1-1 at the plate.

Saturday, as the Bulldogs faced the Cardinals, runs once again came early and often. JWP scored three runs in the bottom of the first but Cromwell did have an initial response with five runs in the top of the second.

The Cardinals maintained the lead until the fourth inning when the Bulldogs tied the game and in the bottom of the fifth, they added two more runs to take a lead. A monstrous eight-run sixth inning allowed JWP to earn the run rule victory.

Austin Carda earned the win after pitching four and two thirds inning while allowing seven hits and five runs but also striking out eight batters. Cole Gartner pitched the final one and one third innings, striking out one while allowing two hits.

Nolan Morsching was a perfect 4-4 from the plate with an RBI and two runs scored while Melchior also went 4-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Gerdts led the Bulldogs in RBI with four, going 2-5 with a homerun in the win.

Also of note, both Blomstrom and Quast hit triples in the win.

JWP will return to action Thursday, April 25, when the team hosts Medford in a Gopher Conference showdown. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.