The Audubon Wheelers dropped a tight, well-played ball game to the Treynor Cardinals 5-2 in Audubon Friday night. Both starting pitchers were excellent, stranding multiple baserunners early. Despite the good pitching early, the difference in the game was numerous walks in the final two frames. Down four, Audubon threatened in the bottom of the seventh but was only able to push across a single run.

Coming into the game, Audubon had been playing their best baseball of the season, winning four of their last five. It was clear from the outset that this trend would continue. After Aaron Olsen stranded two in scoring position in the first, Audubon struck first. Brody Schultes (who reached base in all four plate appearances despite not earning a hit) reached on error and was driven in by an RBI single from Carson Wessel. Unfortunately for Audubon, Ethan Hill was lights out the rest of his outing. Throwing 5.2 innings, he allowed just one unearned run and struck out nine Wheelers. He also limited baserunners, allowing just three in his final three innings.

Aaron Olsen was nearly as good for Audubon. Despite giving up a run in the second, he stranded two more in scoring position, then retired the side in order in the third. Although he gave up another run in the fourth, he kept the Wheelers in the ball game, leaving down by two and handing the ball to Jack Stanerson. The Treynor bats weren’t much more explosive, but they were patient. Two of the next three Treynor runs were a result of walks. However, Stanerson battled, and after having a rough start to the sixth, struck out the side.

Down 5-1 with three outs remaining, the Wheelers put the pressure on the Cardinals. Adam Obrecht and Ryan Hermansen lead off with back-to-back base hits while Jack Stanerson walked to load the bases. Schultes drove home Obrecht by hitting into a fielder’s choice, but that was all the Wheelers could muster. Despite the loss, Audubon played well, continuing their run of improvement and head coach Eric Borkowski was pleased with the way his team performed.

He was also impressed with the performance Olsen put together.

The Wheelers will head out on the road Monday to take on the top ranked 2A team in Underwood. Borkowski hinted that some younger players might start to see some varsity time.

The loss drops the Wheelers to 5-11 while Treynor now 11-6 will return home to face AHSTW Monday night.