Union pitchers including senior Sam Fehl, left, and rising freshman Bryson DeWinter took the Knights' win over the South Hardin Tigers on May 29 in Eldora. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

ELDORA – The Union Knights baseball team headed to Eldora on May 29 to take on the South Hardin Tigers. The Knights entered the evening with a 2-3 record while the Tigers entered 1-2-1.

The Knights got off to a fast start right away in the first inning. Sophomore lead off batter Mays Weber singled and then sophomore Maddux DeWinter walked. Senior Sam Fehl ground out, but advanced both runners to place them in scoring position. Sophomore Ethan Winnike then had a line drive single that scored both runners, giving the Knights an early 2-0 lead.

It did not take South Hardin long to counter. After two quick outs in the bottom of the first inning, one runner walked. This set-up a two-run home run by freshman Casey Williamson. The Tigers had quickly tied up the game 2-2. The Tigers added on two more runs in the bottom of the second, again coming when two outs were already on the board. The Knights now found themselves down 2-4 entering the third inning with the top of their order due back up.

With one out on the board, Weber again got on base for the Knights, this time with a walk. DeWinter then hit a sacrifice to advance Weber into scoring position. Fehl then made hard contact that led to a Tiger error, scoring Weber. The Knights had cut the game down to a one-run deficit, down 3-4, before the inning ended. After holding the Tigers in the bottom of the third, the Knights looked to add more runs in the fourth. This time, it was the second half of the order that got things going for the Knights. Freshman Gavin Frederiksen kicked off the fourth inning with a single. Senior Mason Mullen then singled while advancing Frederiksen to third before senior Ryan DeVries singled, scoring Frederiksen and advancing Mullen. Mullen eventually scored after a Tiger error. The Knights took a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning. The Knights pitching and defense took over from that point.

The Knights pitching and defense allowed only one hit the remainder of the game and no runs scored. However, the Knights offense wasn’t done yet, as they looked to add insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. That inning started with sophomore Ethan Winnike getting on base via walk. Frederikson followed suit, as did sophomore Henry Hegdahl. This set the stage for Mason Mullen. Mason collected three hits in four at bats on the night, and his line drive single scored both Winnike and Frederiksen, extending the Knights lead to 7-4.

Fehl pitched for the Knights. He pitched 6-and-two-thirds innings before handing over pitching duties to 8th-grader Bryson DeWinter to close things out. Bryson made the most of his appearance, causing a pop-up to secure the 7-4 victory for the Knights.

Fehl finished the night allowing just three hits, four runs (two earned), and striking out eight Tiger batters.

The following evening, the Knights were again on the road, traveling to Jesup. In six-and-a-half innings, Union lost 11-9 to the nearly-undefeated J-Hawks (6-1). Junior Andrew Sadler led the Knights on the mound, striking out one while allowing six runs (all earned), three walks, and hitting one batter.

Heading into the week, the Knights were 3-4 and set to play a series of road games including a double header at Wapsie Valley (11-4) on Monday (June 3), then Hudson (3-3) on Tuesday, Grundy Center (3-3) on Wednesday, and finally Aplington-Parkersburg (2-3) on Thursday to round out the week.

The Knights will finally be back home on Monday, June 10, when they’ll play a doubleheader with Jesup beginning at 5 p.m. in La Porte City.