The Marshall A's got off on the right foot to start their 2011 season, defeating the Hadley Buttermakers by the score of 5-1 on Sunday afternoon in Hadley. Jared Pick (1-0) got the start on the mound and threw 3 strong innings to earn the victory.

The A's got off to a quick start in the top of the first inning. Former Buttermaker Derek Rignell drew a 1 out walk and went to second on an Andrew Kinney single. One out later, Jordan Kontz - in his first A's at bat - smacked a 2 out, 2 run double to score Rignell and Kinney, giving the A's a 2-0 lead.

After a 1-2-3 inning from Pick in the bottom of the first, the A's tacked on 3 more runs in the second. Brandon Wilhelmi led off with a single, and Trevor Anderson and Chace Pollock followed with a pair of walks to load the bases. Derek Rignell drove in 2 runs with a single, pushing the A's lead to 4-0. Tyler Flattum would make it 5-0 when his RBI single scored Pollock.

Hadley would get a run back in the bottom of the inning due to some wildness from Pick on the mound and the field. After a pair of walks put runners on first and second base, Pick fielded a bunt and attempted to throw out the lead runner at third base. His throw was errant however, and the Buttermakers would score on the play after the ball sailed into left field.

Both teams would go scoreless for the remainder of the contest. Nate Dickhausen threw 3 shutout innings in relief, and Ben Bartling finished the seventh inning by striking out the side. Both pitchers were making their A's debut.

Derek Rignell, Flattum, Wilhelmi and Anderson each recorded a pair of hits for the A's. Kontz and Rignell each drove in a pair of runs.

The A's home opener will be Friday, May 20th as the A's host the Tracy Express. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 pm.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Marshall A's 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 10 1 Hadley 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0

Marshall A's Hitters AB R H RBI BB SO C Pollock   3  1  0  0  1  0 D Rignell   3  1  2  2  1  0 A Kinney   4  1  1  0  0  0 T Flattum   4  0  2  1  0  0 J Kontz   3  0  1  2  1  1 T Brinka   3  0  0  0  1  1 B Wilhelmi   4  1  2  0  0  0 T Anderson   3  1  2  0  1  0 T Rignell   3  0  0  0  1  1 Totals  30  5  10  5  6  3 E- J Pick (1) 2B- J Kontz (1), T Anderson (1) SB- T Flattum (1), B Wilhelmi (1) Pitchers IP H R ER BB SO HR J Pick (W, 1-0)   3.0  0  1  0  3  5  0 N Dickhausen   3.0  2  0  0  0  3  0 B Bartling   1.0  0  0  0  0  3  0 Totals   7.0  2  1  0  3  11  0

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