by Max Mercy

WASHBURN, Wis. -- The Duluth-Superior Dukes won their first Upper 13 League game of the season by defeating the Washburn Lumberjacks, 6-4, on Sunday, May 24, at Washburn.

The Dukes erased a 4-2 deficit with three runs in the eighth, and they added an insurance run in the ninth. Jon Soto and Jimmy Merling both walked to start the top of the eighth. Cody Kurta grounded out to the right side to advance the runners, and Travis Bartlett hit an RBI single, scoring Soto. Merling also scored on the play due to an outfield error. Bartlett scored later in the inning on Trent Moe's RBI fielder's choice.

Corey Pavlich scored the ninth-inning run when he reached on an error, advanced to second on an errant pick-off attempt, made it to third on Merling's single, and scored on the play due to an outfield error.

Winning pitcher Anthony Bush (1-0 W-L, 0.00 ERA) pitched three shutout innings in relief of starter Jake Lewis. Bush allowed two hits and no walks; he had two strikeouts. Lewis had 13 strikeouts and allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits and two walks in six innings.

Merling was 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs, and two RBIs. His two-run home run put the Dukes up 2-1 in the fifth. Bartlett was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Kevin Hendrickx was 1-for-3 with a run.

C. J. Smith led Washburn with a 3-for-4 performance. He hit a home run and had two RBIs. David Barningham and John Sopiwnik had two hits apiece for the 'Jacks. Barningham was the losing pitcher. He worked two innings and allowed two runs (none earned) on two hits and a walk with one strikeout. Starter Smith tossed two shutout innings with four strikeouts, and John Berg relieved him. Berg went five innings and allowed four runs on three hits and four walks with five strikeouts. He faced two batters without any outs in the eighth before Barningham took over.

The Dukes are now 1-0 in the Upper 13 League and 1-3 overall.