New Life Academy, Springfield win semifinal games by scoring in the seventh inning

New Life Academy has won 15 games this season by 10 runs or more. It's currently thriving at the other extreme — nail-biters.

Senior Brady Gunderson hit a three-run home run with one out in the top of the seventh inning, giving the defending state champion Eagles a 5-2 victory over Brandon-Evansville in the Class 1A state semifinals on Saturday at the Mini Met in Jordan.

"It's fun playing teams that can hang with us," Gunderson said. "It's a nice challenge."

The Eagles (21-2) took a 2-0 lead on Aaron Bouillon's two-run, inside-the-park home run in the second inning. Brandon-Evansville left fielder Patrick McGaffey crashed hard into the wall tracking Bouillon's rocket, and laid on the warning track as the sophomore circled the bases.

"I was in a two-strike mind-set, just put the bat on the ball," Bouillon said. "I thought it was going to be a routine fly out, but it just soared. I just kept chugging around the bases."

The smallest player in the tournament then came up big for Brandon-Evansville (20-7). Jake Nohre, who is 5-4, delivered a two-run single in the third, tying the game at 2-all.

"He's a quiet kid whose actions on the field speak loudly," Brandon-Evansville coach Brian Perleberg said. Nohre moved from right field to left when McGaffey was injured — he suffered a possible broken hand — and had a couple of excellent running catches.

"I was sitting fastball," Gunderson said. "I thought it was going foul, so I stood there for a few seconds. That's the best feeling in the world."

Bosek was the epitome of an ace. He threw 88 pitches in a complete-game shutout over Lewiston-Altura the previous day. Gunderson homered on his 100th pitch against the Eagles.

"It wasn't the ideal situation, throwing our best pitcher two days in a row," Perleberg said. "He gave us the best chance to win."

Springfield 6, New Ulm Cathedral 5: The third time wasn't a charm either for the Greyhounds.

Jaden Mickelson ripped a two-out double to right-center field in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring Branden Flock from first base with the winning run as the Tigers rallied to beat New Ulm Cathedral.

Flock singled with two outs after Jevan Richert's sacrifice fly tied it at 5-all. He never slowed circling the bases on the hit-and-run play.

"Our coach called for a hit-and-run, and I was just trying to drive it through the open hole," Mickelson said. "I was able to get it up in the air."

The win was the third for Springfield (23-3) over New Ulm Cathedral (18-8) this season. All three were one-run games, the last two decided on walk-off hits.

"We have a big rivalry with them," Springfield starter Carter Erickson said. He opened the seventh with his third hit and scored on Richert's fly ball. "There isn't a rivalry any better than this."

The Greyhounds took a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning with a three-run rally. Jack Schwartz lined a bases-loaded single to score the first two runs. Brandon Beranek also scored from first base on the play when Springfield decided to throw to second base attempting to get the advancing Schwartz.