Hill-Murray baseball coach Bill Lechner was just a little stunned when the Pioneers walked up to the plate for the first time Tuesday, already down three runs to Edina.
After all, Pioneers ace and Kansas State signee Robert Youngdahl -- who had given up only two runs all season before the game -- was on the mound in the top half of the first inning.
"Even for the coaches and teammates, it was like, 'What's going on?'" Lechner said.
So the skipper challenged his team: Tie it up within the next two innings. His squad did that and more, as Youngdahl settled into a more typical groove and Hill-Murray overcame Edina 6-3.
After Edina instigated its three-run start, the Pioneers promptly went down 1-2-3, but they rallied in the second to take the lead with four runs -- including two with two outs, after Adam Kersten walked and then Youngdahl scored him and fellow baserunner Travis Neubeck with a fiery liner to left.
"I think that motivated us a little bit more just to pick up our tempo," said sophomore Luc Henke, who went 3-for-3 with two doubles. "When we get rolling, it's contagious."
As the Pioneers kept the pressure up, the Hornets began to fizzle. After his first-inning hiccup, Youngdahl pitched three innings in which he faced four batters or fewer, but Edina also left eight men on base. In the sixth, Youngdahl found himself in a bases-loaded jam but was able to strike out No. 2 batter Alex Lampert for the third out.
"It's frustrating when you see the opportunities there and you don't capitalize on them," Edina coach Mike Olson said.
