Mack powers Chiefs over Riders

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MANDAN — The Mandan Chiefs needed all nine innings to win in walk-off fashion.

Dwight Mack hit a walk-off three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead Mandan over Dickinson 6-4 in an American Legion nine-inning game on Friday at Veteran’s Memorial Ballpark.

“I felt pretty comfortable through eight innings and we played pretty solid baseball,” Dickinson head coach Cory Hansen said. “We have to find a way to finish the games.

“We’ve been in every game we’ve played except for one. We have to learn to play with a lead and make adjustments throughout the course of the game.”

The Roughriders (10-19, 2-11 statewide) plated four runs in the third inning as starter Mason Schiff tossed a solid six innings. Schiff gave up no runs.

“We had a big inning and then we kind of coasted,” Hansen said. “I still thought we played well enough and pitched well enough.”

Opposite Schiff was Tanner Schaf pitching a complete game, allowing two earned runs and striking out three. Schaf’s lone hiccup was the four-run third inning.

Aaron Berg came in relief for Schiff and threw two innings and allowed two runs. Alex Huschka, who was charged with the loss, pitched the top of the ninth.

Mack went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs, while Aaron Janz added a pair of hits, a double and two RBIs. Derik Schaner and Brady Zittleman each supplied hits for the Chiefs (15-26, 5-10).

Dickinson’s catcher Mark Erickson went 2-for-4 with a double and Schiff tallied two hits, a double and two RBIs.

The Roughriders totaled 10 hits in the game, while committing three errors in the field. On the flip side, Mandan had seven hits and didn’t commit a single error.

Dickinson will get some time to regroup by having almost a full week off before hosting Fargo Post 2 starting at 5 p.m. on Thursday.

“We’re playing pretty well, I mean we really are,” Hansen said. “We’ve played with every team in the league. We just have to keep our heads up and hang in there.”

Dickinson 004 000 000 — 4 10 3

Mandan 000 000 024 — 6 7 0

Mason Schiff, Aaron Berg (7), Alex Huschka (9) and Mark Erickson. Tanner Schaf and Tre Kautzman. W–Schaf. L–Huschka. HR–Dwight Mack.

Highlights: D, Mark Erickson 2-for-4, 2B; Schiff 2-for-3, 2 RBIs, 2B. M, Schaf CG, 2 runs, 3 K; Aaron Janz 2-for-4 2 runs; Mack 2-for-4, home run, 4 RBIs; Derik Schaner 1-for-2; Brady Zittleman 1-for-2, run.

Records: M 15-26, 5-10 statewide, D 10-19, 2-11.

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