Rochester, MN - The RCTC Yellowjackets and MN West Bluejays squared off in a critical Southern Division series over the weekend. With both teams post-season hopes on the line the Jackets came away with a critical four-game sweep to stay alive in the playoff chase. The series was bookended by late game heroics for the Jackets.
Day one in Worthington saw RCTC take an 8-4 lead into the bottom of the sixth where MN West scored three to take a 10-8 advantage. RCTC scored 3 in the top of the seventh to lead 11-10 before Zach Carr closed the door in the bottom of the inning to secure the win. Jesus Sosa was 3-4 with a homerun, a triple, and 3 RBI, while Jerry Fletcher was 2-4 with a pair of homeruns and 4 RBI's. Ramon Teran had a clutch double in the seventh to tie the game before Fletcher's sacrifice fly gave the Jackets the win.
Game two was all RCTC as starter Brayden Peterson went all seven innings, allowing only 2 runs and 4 hits while striking out 7 in the Jackets 14-2 win. Riley Forbes had a bases clearing 3 run double, while Jacob Trusner homered for the Jackets. Ramon Teran had a triple while the Jackets had five doubles in the game (Jesus Sosa, Jerry Fletcher, Connor Mathison, Dylan Balazovich, and Forbes).
Games three and four moved to Rochester as the two teams squared off at Mayo Field. Both games proved to be pitchers duels throughout. In game one RCTC's Owen Vargas outdueled the Bluejays Tucker Brandner 1-0. Vargas allowed only 4 hits in the shutout, walking 1 and striking out 5. The Jackets also only could muster four hits, and scored on a Brandner wild pitch in the third inning.
In the final game of the series the Jackets got on the board early as Jesus Sosa doubled and scored on a Nate Vaughn sacrifice fly in the first inning. MN West tied the game in the third as Cayden Von Eye scored on a passed ball. That was all of the scoring either team would allow until the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs and two on, RCTC's Jacob Trusner hit a massive three-run shot to left securing the 4-1 and giving the Jackets the much needed sweep in the series. Sam Johnston picked up the win, going 5 innings, allowing only 3 hits and 1 unearned run. Zach Car picked up the save going 2 innings in relief.
RCTC will next face Riverland in a four game series with play-off hopes in the balance. RCTC will need to win 3 of 4 in the series to potentially qualify for the post-season tournament. The two teams will play at 1:00 and 3:30 in Austin on Saturday, before wrapping of the series in Rochester (at Mayo Field) at 1:00 and 3:30 on Sunday.
