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| Ryan Giebel 3-4 vs. Shakopee |
The hard-hitting Sabers roughed up three Tiger pitchers for 16 hits in handing the home team its second conference loss in as many days.
"We kind of dug ourselves a hole we couldn't get out of today," Tiger coach Jon Graff said. "We threw strikes but just got too much of the plate where they could drive it, which they did."
The Sabers led 10-0 heading into the home half of the fifth inning and looked like they would send everyone home early before the Tigers kept the game alive with a two-run rally.
The first run scored on JD Hinks' single and the second on a groundout by Parker Holmstrom.
Nick Schoening's sacrifice fly plated the third run in the sixth inning and singles by Holmstrom, Austin Martinsen and Landon Neilsen produced the fourth run in the bottom of the seventh.
"The kids could have cashed it in after falling down so much, but they didn't," Graff said. "There were no heads hanging, giving up or anything like that. We actually had some really good at bats and regained some confidence.
"It's easy to be positive and in the game when you're winning," Graff said, "but the tough teams stay in it when they're down. We did that. We battled. We didn't give in."
The Tigers finished with 12 hits, including three by Ryan Giebel and two apiece by Hinks and Johnny Dittman.
Maverick Carlson started on the mound for the Tigers and took the loss after allowing seven runs on 10 hits in two innings. Kyle Johnson surrendered three runs in three innings of relief. Neilsen finished up with two frames of scoreless ball.
The Tigers get another shot at the Sabers Thursday afternoon with a road game at Tahpah Park before closing out their busy week Frdiay with a home contest against New Prague.
