Union Grove breaks open tight game with nine-run seventh, tops Badger 12-2

Union Grove turned a close Southern Lakes Conference game into a rout Tuesday, scoring nine runs in the seventh inning to beat Badger 12-2 at Badger High School.

The Broncos led just 3-2 entering the final inning before the lineup erupted. Williams started the decisive surge with a single that brought home two runs. Union Grove added to the outburst when an error scored a run, Drew Dinauer singled in another run, Jude Rogowski lifted a sacrifice fly, and Cooper Dye delivered a two-run single. A second Badger error in the inning brought home two more as the Broncos put the game away.

Union Grove went to work early. Williams singled in the top of the first to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead, and Reesman added an RBI single in the third to make it 2-0. Badger answered with two runs, but Union Grove stayed in control behind a clean defensive effort and steady pitching.

Luke Drummond earned the win for the Broncos after allowing three hits and two runs over four innings. He struck out two and walked one. Reisenauer followed with 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, giving up one hit while striking out one and walking three. Badger starter McCarthy took the loss after allowing two runs on two hits in 2 2/3 innings, with four strikeouts and one walk.

Union Grove finished with 11 hits. Williams led the way by going 3 for 4, while Dye and Williams each drove in two runs. Dinauer and Schmitz collected multiple hits, and Tucker Katterhagen stole two bases as the Broncos swiped four bases overall. Union Grove also played error-free baseball, with Reesman handling a team-high six chances in the field.

Badger got hits from Kellar, O'Grady, Creighton and Ecklund, while Levitt and Kellar each drove in a run. The Broncos will see the Badgers again Friday, when Union Grove returns home for the next meeting in the series.