Big Fifth Inning Propels A’s Over Bandits

MANITOWOC — For a few innings, the Manitowoc Bandits looked like they were going to steal a game from the Sheboygan A’s. That was, until Sheboygan’s bats came alive in the fifth inning.

The Sheboygan A’s strung together five straight hits leading to an eight-run fifth inning that propelled them to a 13-9 win at Manitowoc Tuesday night.

Joe Christensen had handcuffed the Sheboygan bats early, holding them to just two runs through four innings. It was in the fifth when he got in trouble. 

The A’s chased him out of the game in 4.2 innings, in which time he gave up 10 runs (six earned) on nine hits. He struck out four and walked two.

Manitowoc (8-9 overall) took the lead in the bottom of the first inning when Sam Spurney hit a two-run home run to put the Bandits on the board. He also smacked two doubles and finished with five RBI. Brock Wetenkamp, Mike Hall and Matt Richter each had two hits as well for the Bandits.

Joey Patzman had two hits in the big fifth inning, the second coming with the bases loaded.Ty Engler got the win and Ryan Eigenberger the save with 3 2/3s innings of solid relief.

Ryan Schilter led the A’s with three hits and three runs batted in. Patzman, Jared Fon and Ryan Schmitz all had two hits. All nine starters got at least one hit and scored at least one run and seven of the nine drove in at least one run.

The win puts the A’s at 14-8 overall, 4-6 in the Wisconsin State League and 4-3 in the Northeastern Wisconsin League.

Story by: The Sheboygan Press and Manitowoc Herald Times