Slump: Hitting woes continue, as Grand Forks sweeps Post 14

After just one hit against Mandan in a doubleheader earlier this week despite some hard-hit balls, Jamestown Post 14 had a mirror-image performance on Friday.

Grand Forks starters Colin Hennessy and Kaleb Binstock surrendered just one run on five hits over the 14 innings in a 3-1, 1-0 Class AA sweep at Jack Brown Stadium.

Much like against Mandan, Jamestown hammered liners to outfielders and watched their opponent play nearly error-free ball.

"I thought we had some loud outs," Jamestown coach Cory Anderson said.

In the first game, Hennessy kept Jamestown off-balance despite a slow start, which has plagued him lately.

"I've got to figure that out, because that's not a good thing," said Hennessy, who threw 112 pitches in seven innings of work. "It's been like that the past couple of starts."

Grand Forks coach Nick Chine said it hasn't been a big problem.

"He's typically a slow starter-today was not unusual," he said. "Once he settled in, he did a nice job."

Hennessy retired 13 of 14 at one point. In total, he allowed three hits on one run while walking three, hitting one and striking seven.

"Once I settled in, I was hitting the knees more," Hennessy said. "I could throw my curveball at any time in the count."

He did run into trouble in the seventh, walking two with one out. However, he struck out Nolan Kratz and coerced a flyout from Joey Gebhardt to end the game.

The Royals scored two runs in the top of the first inning, as Ben Carolin singled in Cole Kirchoffner and Eric Leach scored on an error. Erik Hanson scored on a fielder's choice for an insurance run in the seventh off Jamestown starter Brian Wenzel, who also went the distance.

The pitching theme continued into the nightcap, which saw Binstock turn in a gem. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Jamestown's Brian Wenzel and Tyler Ukestad singled, though Binstock induced a groundout to end the inning.

Binstock walked one, hit one and struck out four, receiving his only run support in the first inning when Carolin's ground out plated Kirchoffner.

Jamestown spoiled two strong pitching performances, as Wenzel allowed two earned runs on six hits. He walked four, hit one and struck out six.

In the second game, Walker allowed the one run on seven hits and struck out four. He didn't allow a free pass.

"Both pitchers deserved better than what they got," Anderson said. "We'll continue to grind games out. They're keeping us in there with a chance to win and until we make things go our way, that's all we can hope for."

Jamestown hits the road to face the Bismarck Governors on Monday.

Grand Forks 3, Jamestown 1

Grand Forks 200 000 1 -- 3 6 0

Jamestown 100 000 0 -- 1 3 3

Colin Hennessy and Brandon Walters. Brian Wenzel and Joey Gebhardt. W--Hennessy. L--Wenzel (2-2).

Highlights: GF, Hennessy 7 IP, R, ER, 3 H, 3 walks, HBP, 7Ks, Eric Leach 2-2, R, 2 walks. J, Wenzel 7 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 6 H, 4 walks, HBP, 6 Ks, Tanner Lunzman 1-2, walk.

Grand Forks 1, Jamestown 0

Grand Forks 100 000 0 -- 1 7 1

Jamestown 000 000 0 -- 0 2 1

Kaleb Binstock and Walters. Peyton Walker and Shaun Hogan. W--Binstock. L--Walker (0-3).

Highlights: GF, Binstock 7 IP, 0 R, 2 H, walk, HBP, 4 Ks, Ben Carolin 2-3, RBI. J, Walker 7 IP, R, ER, 7 H, 0 walks, 4 Ks.