Olund Hits for Cycle in Milkmen Series Opening Win Over Saltdogs

Lincoln, Nebraska- Alec Olund hit for the cycle while Milwaukee recorded twenty-three hits, four home runs, and the Milkmen defeated the Lincoln Saltdogs 16-5, Tuesday night at Haymarket Park.  Paul Myro IV had three hits and Jake Hjelle homered in the Lincoln loss.  The Saltdogs dropped their fourth straight game and with Tuesday’s loss, were officially eliminated from post-season qualification.

Milwaukee (57-37) scored sixteen runs off twenty-three hits, committed no errors, and left eight runners on base.  Lincoln (40-54) had five runs, with nine hits, one error, and left ten runners aboard.  Tuesday night’s game lasted three hours and seventeen minutes and was played in front of 2.003 fans.

The Milkmen started the scoring in the top of the first inning.  Facing Lincoln starting pitcher Foster Pace, with two outs, Andy Blake, Alec Olund, and Griffin Doersching hit back-to-back-to-back solo home runs, to make it 3-0.

Lincoln got a run back in the bottom of the first.  Facing Milwaukee starter Angelo Cabral, Cam Phelts singled, and stole second base, which was his 49^th stolen base of the season.  Two batters later, Jario Pomares doubled, scoring Phelts, to make it 3-1.

In the top of the second, Milwaukee plated two more runs.  Edrick Felix led off the inning with a walk.  Then, Chase Waddell doubled.  Two batters later, Yordys Valdes singled, scoring Felix.  Then, Delvin Perez singled, scoring Waddell, to make it 5-1.

The Milkmen extended the lead in the top of the fourth.  With one out, Charlie Marion singled.  Then, Yordys Valdes singled, and stole second.  Delvin Perez singled, scoring Marion.  Then, Andy Blake singled, scoring Valdes, to make it 7-1.

Milwaukee pushed its lead to eight runs in the top of the sixth.  Facing Lincoln reliever Jeferson Figueroa, Charlie Marion led off the inning with a walk, then took second on a passed ball.  Three batters later, Andy Blake singled, scoring Marion.  Then, Alec Olund doubled, driving home Blake, to make it 9-1.

The Saltdogs narrowed the deficit in the bottom of the sixth.  Cary Arbolida led off the inning with a walk.  Then, Connor Bagnieski reached on a fielder’s choice.  Two batters later, Griffin Everitt doubled down the left field line, scoring Arbolida and Bagnieski, to make it 9-3.  Milwaukee went to the bullpen and brought in Sam Staerker.  Paul Myro IV tripled in the left-centerfield gap, scoring Everitt, to make it 9-4.

In the top of the seventh, Milwaukee got a couple runs back.  Facing reliever Drake LaRoche, Edrick Felix hit a one-out solo home run to left, to make it 10-4.  Then, Chase Waddell singled.  Charlie Marion doubled.  Then, Yordys Valdes singled, scoring Waddell, to make it 11-4.

Lincoln’s final run came in the bottom of the seventh.  Facing Milwaukee reliever Justin Kelly, Jake Hjelle hit a one-out solo home run to left field.  His sixteenth homer of the year make it 11-5.

Milwaukee put the finishing touches on the game by sending nine batters to the plate in the top of the ninth and scored five runs.  Facing Lincoln reliever Ryan Spalliero, Edrick Felix led off the inning with a single.  Chase Waddell singled.  Charlie Marion hit a double, scoring Felix.  Three batters later, Lincoln went to the bullpen and brought in Jack Hill.  Andy Blake singled, scoring Waddell and Marion. Then, Alec Olund tripled, giving him the cycle, and scoring Blake.  The next batter, Griffin Doersching, singled, scoring Olund, to make it 16-5, which would be the final score.

Milkmen starting pitcher Angelo Cabral (1-2) earned the win, pitching 5.1 innings, giving up four runs, off six hits, struck out eleven and walked two.  Sam Staerker pitched 0.2 innings, giving up one hit and struck out two.  Justin Kelly worked 1.0 inning, yielding one run, off one hit.  Packy-Bradley Cooney pitched 1.0 inning, struck out two and walked two.  Micky Scheetz pitched 1.0 inning and gave up one hit.

Lincoln starter Foster Pace (3-5) took the loss, pitching 4.0 innings, giving up seven runs, off ten hits, struck out three and walked one.  Alex Johnson pitched 1.0 inning, struck out three and walked one.  Jeferson Figueroa worked 1.0 inning, giving up two runs, off two hits, struck out one and walked one.  Drake LaRoche pitched 2.0 innings, yielding two runs, off five hits.  Ryan Spalliero pitched 0.2 innings, surrendering three runs, off three hits and struck out one.  Jack Hill pitched 0.1 inning, giving up two runs, off three hits.

Offensively for Milwaukee, Yordys Valdes was 3-for-6 with two RBIs.  Delvin Perez went 2-for-6 and drove in two runs.  Andy Blake was 4-for-6 with a solo home run and five runs batted in.  Alec Olund was 4-for-6 with a solo home run, three RBIs, plus hit for the cycle.  Griffin Doersching was 2-for-6 with a home run and two runs batted in.  Edrick Felix was 2-for-3 with a home run.  Chase Waddell was 3-for-5.  Charlie Marion went 3-for-4 with one run batted in.

For the Saltdogs, Jairo Pomares was 1-for-5 with an RBI.  Jake Hjelle was 2-for-5 with a home run.  Griffin Everitt was 1-for-2 and drove in two runs.  Paul Myro IV was 3-for-3 with one RBI.

Game two of the three-game series is Wednesday night.  RHP Jacob Hughes (5-3, 6.47 ERA) will pitch for Lincoln.  RHP Christian Young (6-4, 4.73 ERA) will be on the mound for Milwaukee.  The first pitch at Haymarket Park will be 6:35 p.m.  The game will be broadcast on KFOR 101.5 FM/1240 AM and on: www.aabaseball.tv.

Wednesday’s game is WIENER WEDNESDAY! sponsored by Fairbury Brand.  Fans may purchase $2 hot dogs & play Baseball Bingo.  It’s also College Night.  College students get a Buy-One-Get-One FREE ticket with their student ID.  Plus, it’s Bark in the Park sponsored by Raising Cane’s and Graduate Hotels.  For tickets, merchandise, and more information, visit: www.saltdogs.com.