Smith Throws One-Hitter as Aces Beat the Railcats
Tyler Smith took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and ended up with a complete game one-hitter as the Owatonna Aces beat Randolph 3-1 at Fuller Field at Dartt's Park Wednesday. Smith struck out six, including two in the ninth, and faced the minimum six times thanks to numerous fine defensive plays.
The Railcats scored an unearned run in the first inning on two walks and an error. Third baseman Kodey Kiel redeemed himself from the misplayed hot-shot by making several stellar plays through the rest of the game. He made a great play on a sharply hit ball to open the fourth inning and made a routine play for the second out. Kiel also made a great running throw in the sixth for the third out.
After a frustrating night at the dish for the recent OHS grad, Kiel smashed a two-out single in the eighth to provide an insurance run. Dexter Leer scored the run after getting aboard on a one-hit single and stealing second base on the next pitch. The Aces had four hits in the game.
After Randolph scored to start the game, Owatonna pushed one across in the bottom of the inning. Smith, who walked, raced home from second on Benji Hager's single. Hager also made a great sliding catch in the right field to end the third inning.
The Aces manufactured a run in the fifth. Brandon Wolf blooped a ball into right field that was overrun by the fielder for an error. Hager got hit by a pitch and Jake Miller sacrificed the runners to second and third. Brad Staska hit a ball sharply to the left side of the infield. The Railcats player came home with the throw leading to a rundown and eventually an error by Randolph that allowed Wolf to score.
@Aces_Baseball said on Twitter, "Aces take down Randolph 3-1 behind a throwback performance from Tyler Smith. A complete game 1-hitter! Special performance from him and a great catching job from (Rylee Muhr) in a tight spot! Next game is tomorrow (Friday) against (Stewartville-Racine)."
Lead-off batter Drew Leidner had Randolph's hit, a stroke to left with one out in the eighth. The Railcats left two on base in the inning and just four in the game. Leidner was the last of three pitchers used by Randolph, following Dylan Bergstad and Justin King to the mound.