Cavaliers rally past Wildcats

MINSTER - Malave Bettinger started the Coldwater rally in the sixth inning and then he finished it in the seventh.

The Cavalier junior broke up the no-hit bid of Minster's Josh Nixon in the sixth with an RBI single and then completed the comeback with what turned out to be the game-winning two-run double in the seventh, as Coldwater reeled off seven unearned runs in the final two innings to pull out a 7-6 Midwest Athletic Conference victory at Hanover Street Park - putting an end to the Wildcats' nine-game winning streak.

"Sometimes you rely on certain guys, and tonight Malave Bettinger came up with two huge hits," Coldwater coach Brian Harlamert said. "He got the first one to break a no-hitter up in the sixth and get our first run and then he gets the big shot in the gap that gets us two more. We were really fortunate that we got guys on ahead of him. We got a few breaks there. It comes down to just making good contact, and we couldn't do that early in the game against Josh."

Minster, which played mistake free behind Josh Nixon through the first five innings, committed four errors over the last two. After Bettinger's hit in the sixth, an error supplied another run and Aaron Harlamert's double added two more to cut the score to 6-4.

An error put Kraig Schoenherr on first base with one down in the seventh and he later scored on another mistake by the Minster infield. Soon after, Bettinger came to the plate and drove home Brody Hoying and Derek Thobe.

The Cavaliers scored all seven runs on just three hits - two of those coming from Bettinger, who finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

The Wildcats still had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh. Brett Hoelscher led off the inning with a single and then Sam Bornhorst reached base safely on an error after he put down a bunt. The duo was moved into second and third by Bryce Schmiesing's sacrifice bunt. However, Hoelscher was called out at home on a controversial call after a wild pitch and Coldwater pitcher Brody Hoying locked up the win by forcing a popup to end the game.

"Brian's got a nice group," Minster coach Mike Wiss said. "We were college roommates. We go way back. They will do very well in tournament - I have no doubt about that - and I think Minster's got a chance to be pretty decent in the tournament, too. We've just got to shore up a couple things and don't give people things."

The Wildcats (13-7, 5-2 in the MAC), facing one of the area's best pitchers in Derek Thobe, tallied all six runs on eight hits in the first four innings and put their leadoff hitter on base in six innings. Peter Falk led off the game with a triple and scored on Josh Nixon's sacrifice fly. Falk had a two-run base hit with two outs in the second and an error by the Cavs allowed Minster to grab a 4-0 lead. Two innings later, Josh Nixon came through with another two-out RBI and one more error assessed to Coldwater put another run on the scoreboard.

Thobe exited the game after 3 2/3 innings. He allowed four earned runs, two walks and struck out five. Kyle McKibben got the final out in the fourth. Jack Hemmelgarn threw one inning, giving way for Brody Hoying to come on for the final two innings and pick up the win.

Nixon lasted 6 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking two. He allowed just two baserunners through the first five innings and appeared to be on cruise control until the homestretch.

"He competed. I know we've lost three or four in the last couple of games against good pitchers, and Josh is right there too," coach Harlamert said. "We were able to find a way late in the game to get a win."

"Josh is a tough-luck loser," Wiss said. "You know, for Derek Thobe if that game stays 6-0, 6-2, he's a tough-luck loser because they gave us some of those runs, too. Derek Thobe is a nice player. They made some miscues. I told Brian after the game that neither one of us liked the crooked numbers in the error column. Errors gave us runs and the four errors gave them runs."

Both teams remain in the hunt for a of piece the MAC title, although it will take some help from other teams. The Wildcats have another key MAC matchup at Versailles on Friday.

The Cavaliers (18-4, 5-2 in the MAC) are home against Wapakoneta on Thursday and then return to MAC play Friday against New Knoxville.

"I'm hoping that the way we ended the game tonight continues for us the rest of this week and the rest of our season," coach Harlamert said. "It's just about expecting how good you can be and coming to the ballpark and competing. We really weren't in 100 percent compete mode early."