Johanningmeier gem lifts Bulldogs to UIC sweep

MONONA — Nathan Johanningmeier threw a three-hit shutout, lifting the MFL MarMac baseball team to a 9-0 victory over Postville and a doubleheader sweep.

The Bulldogs (4-4 overall, 2-2 Upper Iowa Conference) came from behind to win the opener, 6-4. The wins tied and then exceeded MFL MarMac’s victory total from a year ago. The sweep was the Bulldogs’ first since they took two from Kee High July 3, 2015.

Johanningmeier needed just 86 pitches to pick up his first victory of the year. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter.  Postville did not get a runner past second base in the game.

MFL MarMac’s offense took advantage of early opportunities in the game, drawing five walks. The Bullodgs scored the only runs they would need in the first inning and led 6-0 after two frames. Kaleb Tilson had the big blow offensively, a two-run double.

Game one saw the Bulldogs come from behind for a victory for the first time this year. Postville led 1-0 in the first inning and 3-1 in the fourth before the ‘Dogs took the lead with a three-run bottom of the fourth inning. They added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth inning to help sophomore Jackson Landt pick up his second victory of the year. Landt struck out 11 in five innings of work and held the Pirates to two hits. Ethan Stubbs allowed only an unearned run in the seventh inning while picking up the save. 

Zach Trudo led the offense with a pair of hits and two stolen bases while Landt scored a pair of runs.

The Bulldogs played at Sumner-Fredericksburg Friday and had a doubleheader at Turkey Valley Monday.