MARSHALL, Minn. – The Marshall A’s opened the 2024 home season on Friday, May 24, earning a 7-2 Corn Belt League victory over the Willmar Rails.
Willmar took advantage of a leadoff hit by pitch in the first inning to score a run, but the lead didn’t last long as Marshall took the lead in the second inning. Wes Sarsland started the inning with a walk and moved to third on a double by Zach Olsen. Charlie Jacobson, hitting for the first time in two seasons, slapped a single/error past the shortstop to score Sarsland and Olsen to give the A’s a 2-1 advantage.
The lead moved to 3-1 in the third with Jacobson coaxing a bases loaded two-out walk.
Marshall held a 3-2 lead into the seventh before putting the game away with a four-run seventh. Ryan Schwagel worked a walk to start the frame before Sarsland ripped a double to right-center field. Logan Tomasek plated the first two runs of the frame reaching via an error, while Jacobson reached via an infield single to palte another run. Ryan VanMoer, who finished the game with two hits (his first two as a married man), drove in the final run with an RBI single.
Logan Terfehr started on the mound for Marshall and tossed his scheduled three innings allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts. Zach Olson fired a solid two innings with one run scoring on two hits, while striking out a pair to earn the victory. Cody Wichmann fired four shutout innings, allowing just one hit, while striking out six to pick-up the save.
Schwagel, VanMoer and Sarsland all finished with two hits, while Jacobson (maybe two), Wichmann and Olsen each had one hit.
Marshall (2-0) returns to the diamond on Friday, May 31, with a big road game versus Raymond starting at 7:30 p.m. The A’s will play at home on Sunday, June 2, with a 5 p.m. first pitch versus Granite Falls.