Moose Lake sweeps Ely

A late rally gave visiting Moose Lake a second-game victory and a sweep of Ely's season-opening American Legion baseball doubleheader Friday night at Veterans Memorial Field.

Chris Carlson's bases-clearing double tied the game in the sixth, and the winning run scored in the eighth inning on a passed ball as the visitors pulled off a 7-6 victory.

Brad Fossum went five-for-five in the opener and Rex Janke limited Post 248 to four hits in a 12-2, first-game decision.

The contest of the day was the nightcap, as Alex Marafiot's two-run single capped a three-run top of the sixth and put Ely up 6-3.  Ely was the visiting team in the second game of the Eighth District Division II league twinbill.

But Post 248's lead was short-lived as Moose Lake came back with three runs in its half of the frame, all on Carlson's key blow.

The winners pushed across a run in the eighth against losing pitcher Spencer Gaulke, who came on in relief of starter Patrick Huisman, who gave up nine hits in six frames and allowed three earned runs.

Huisman and Gaulke had two hits each for Ely, as did Tayler Banks. Brody Skala ripped a run-scoring double.

In the opening game, Moose Lake scored nine runs in the last three frames, pulling away after Ely trimmed the lead to 3-2.

Fossum stoked the winners' offense, and Moose Lake also capitalized on three Ely errors. Losing pitcher Will Gustafson struck out five in five innings of work, and both Willis and Gaulke had two hits each for Post 248.

Ely returns to action Wednesday, at home, against Two Harbors.