Comeback keeps Owatonna atop Big Nine

Owatonna baseball has been battling Rochester Mayo and Mankato East for control of the Big Nine Conference lead, but after three wins last week, the Huskies now have the best record in the Big Nine Conference (10-3, 13-3) despite being in a three-way tie for conference points.

The Huskies’ winning week began with an 8-5 win over Rochester Century in the second matchup of a five-game home stand for Owatonna.

The Panthers brought the fight to Dartts Park and led the game 5-1 going into the bottom of the fifth inning, but some timely offense and mistakes by the visitors led Owatonna to taking a 6-5 lead after the half inning.

A leadoff walk by Blake Davison began the rally before Nolan Rolloff, Bentley Arvig and Connor Wiese started a chain of hits to cut the lead and set Owatonna up with runners in scoring position.

The hammer struck when Owatonna’s Andy Mitchell launched a triple to clear the bases and tie the game at 5-5.

Designated hitter Jack Meneguzzo promptly gave the Huskies the game-winning run by scoring Mitchell from third base.

Owatonna went on to add two insurance runs in the sixth before closing out the home win at 8-5.

The Huskies split a home doubleheader with Mankato West later in the week and had to earn its win in comeback fashion again.

The Scarlets were able to put the pressure on by getting multiple runs home early, but once again chain hitting and key walks put the Huskies in the driver’s seat late to escape with an 8-5 lead in the first game.

Owatonna’s second matchup was far from what it hoped for to close out the day as Mankato West went on to win 13-2.

In the team’s final home game of the stretch, Owatonna beat Minneapolis Washburn 7-4 to improve the team’s record to 13-3.

Up next is a pivotal Big Nine Conference game against Albert Lea on Thursday, May 15 at 5 p.m.