DC SAINTS BEAT EXPRESS

July 23, 2004

The Express fell victim to the DC Saints Wednesday evening in Dassel by a score of 5-2 in the final regular season game of the year.

After a brief rain delay the teams took the field. Kimball struck first plating a single run in the top of the first on a sac fly by Mike Arnold scoring Jeremy Kuechle. That lead did not last as the Saints answered in their half of the first scoring four runs off Express starter Justin Hill. They added one more in the second inning making the score 5-1. It stayed that way until the fourth inning when Scott Marquardt crushed a solo shot over the right centerfield wall to get the Express within three at 5-2. Scott hit the ball hard in every at bat with the Saints making some nice defensive plays. Marquardt finished the night 2-4 with a HR, 1R, and an rbi.

Saints starter Travis Johnson pitched well as he went eight innings striking out five. Express starter Justin Hill went four innings and pitched decent after the first inning when he was knocked around a bit for four runs. He was relieved by Kris Hagen in the fifth. Hagen pitched well as he rebounded nicely after a rough first outing last Wednesday evening in Maple Lake. Hagen, after being out of commission with a hairline fracture in his throwing arm pitched three innings of scoreless relief before giving way to Jeremy Kuechle who struck out the side in the eighth inning. Kimball couldn’t muster a hit in the top of the ninth ending the game.

The loss give the Express a regular season final record of 19-10. Overall after the Dassel game they were 20-10 adding the first playoff victory from last weekend.