Austin Packers baseball team opens 2024 season with 9-6 win over Rochester John Marshall

The Austin Packers baseball team opened the 2024 season at Dick Seltz Field Thursday versus the Rochester John Marshall Rockets in a Big 9 Conference tilt, and veteran Peyton Ransom earned the win on the mound, plus he was also 2 for 3 at the plate with a double, two RBI’s and two runs scored to help lead the Packers to a 9-6 win.

JM struck first with three runs in the top of the first inning, but the Packers answered with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning, and they then tallied five more in the bottom of the second off of losing pitcher Aaron Terpstra to take a lead they would not relinquish of 8-3.  The Rockets tried to rally with one in the fifth and two more in the top of the sixth, but Austin’s offense was able to add another run in the bottom half of the inning for a 9-6 lead, and Isaac Osgood pitched a scoreless seventh to help seal the win.

Peyton Ransom got the start for the Packers Thursday and earned the win by pitching the first five innings, giving up four runs, one earned, on three hits, striking out eight and walking four.  Isaiah Conway threw one inning and gave up two runs, one earned, on no hits, walking four and striking out one, and Osgood held JM hitless in the top of the 7th, with no strikeouts and one walk.

Besides Ransom’s 2 for 3 performance at the plate with two RBI’s, Osgood was 2 for 3 with a double, two RBI’s and three runs scored, Cooper Napton was 1 for 4 with two RBI’s, and Ethan Anderson was 1 for 3 with a run knocked in and another scored as the Packers wound up with nine runs on nine hits and four errors for the game, while John Marshall finished with six runs, three hits and three errors.

The 1-0 Packers are back into action Saturday for their first road game of the season in Winona versus the Winhawks in a Big 9 Conference and Section 1AAA matchup, with first pitch at 2:00 p.m.