Luepke drives in two runs in bottom of seventh to win it for Rockets

By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

SPENCER — The Spencer baseball team grabbed a share of first place in the Cloverbelt Conference East Division with one game to play after a thrilling 6-5 win over previously unbeaten Neillsville on Tuesday at Spencer High School.

Freshman Hunter Luepke drove in a pair of runs with a single in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Spencer (18-2, 14-1 Cloverbelt East) the win.

Spencer led 4-0 after three innings before Neillsville rallied with two runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to tie the game.

The Warriors (18-1, 14-1 Cloverbelt East) scored a run in the top of the seventh to take the lead before Luepke’s big hit in the bottom of the inning gave Spencer the victory.

Bobby Pilz earned the win with a complete-game effort for the Rockets. Ryan Busse and Jonny Tomke each had two hits, Jake Meyers had two RBIs, and Pilz scored three times for Spencer.

The Rockets host Colby, and Neillsville plays at home against Greenwood on Thursday in both teams’ final Cloverbelt East game.

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com.)

Rockets 6, Warriors 5

Neillsville 000 202 1 – 5 7 5

Spencer 103 000 2 – 6 9 1

WP: Bobby Pilz. LP: Sam Neville.

SO: Neville 3; Pilz 0. BB: Neville 2; Pilz 3.

Top hitters: N, Neville 3×4; Neal Matson 2×4. S, Ryan Busse 2×3; Jonny Tomke 2×4; Jake Meyers 2B, 2 RBIs; Hunter Luepke 2 RBIs; Pilz 3 runs.

Records: Neillsville 18-1, 14-1 Cloverbelt East; Spencer 18-2, 14-1 Cloverbelt East.