Mr. Drifter Drives in Winning Run in 2-1 Victory Over Berries

Karsten Hansen slides into home plate safely during the Drifters 2-1 win over Marion on June 30th. (Photo by Ella Poor)

By Dillon Zamperin

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Drifters (7-18, 4-13) came into Tuesday’s game with a vengeance on their mind against the Marion Berries (12-15, 9-14) after a tough road trip to Washington. The vengeance came in the form of pitchers Tristan Ledbetter, Blake Stavros and Mr. Drifter himself, Cooper Mullens, to secure the 2-1 victory.

The thrilling win for the Drifters marks their first since June 23, in a dominant showing from the pitching staff and Mullens at the plate.

“After the road trip, that was huge. Our pitching staff came out tonight and gave up one [run],” Head Coach Jeff Lyle said. “It took a lot of pressure off of our offense tonight, which is still a little bit struggling for that big hit, but to see it come late from Hansen and Mullens in the [eighth] inning; it was real big for us.”

Ledbetter, a junior from Umpqua Community College, started the game on the mound for Springfield and provided another quality outing with one or fewer runs allowed across five innings. His Tuesday night start was his second straight and his fourth outing overall this season with one or fewer runs allowed and at least three innings pitched.

The Roseburg, Oregon, native tied his career high in innings pitched for the Drifters and gave up just one run on two hits — both of which occurred in the second inning. Across 77 pitches, Ledbetter worked efficiently, striking out three and walking four for another praiseworthy performance.

“He’s just an absolute bulldog. He has a bulldog mentality, but I don’t know if his heart rate ever gets over 60,” Lyle said. “It’s a gift he has where he’s able to compete and stay level-headed.”

Ledbetter worked his way out of two jams during the fourth and fifth innings, which saw runners on first and second base with one or no outs. Both times, he was able to work his way out of it without allowing a run in either situation.

The move from Ledbetter to the bullpen was a seamless transition as the bullpen finished Ledbetter’s great night. Tristan Jennings, a redshirt freshman from Los Angeles City College, took the sixth inning and, like Ledbetter, worked out of a jam, stranding two runners.

Stavros took the next two innings, pitching his best game of the season. The fourth-year Drifter and senior from Bushnell University pitched two hitless innings, striking out two and picking up his first win this year. Stavros left the door open for closer Michael Klein to close the game, which he did once again.

Klein, a senior in the transfer portal, picked up his fifth save of the year in yet another powerful pitching performance. For his fifth consecutive outing, Klein struck out at least one batter while also picking up his 30th strikeout of the year along with the save to move into a tie for the league lead in saves and second in strikeouts.

In total, the Springfield pitching staff combined for just two hits allowed, its lowest of the season so far.

After recording just five hits on offense in its last two games, Springfield one-upped itself in one game on Tuesday night, recording six hits in the win.

Michigan’s redshirt junior second baseman, Cooper Mullens, recorded one hit and both of the RBIs in the win, continuing to cement his legacy with Springfield. Mullens hit a clutch RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the lead and drive in Karsten Hansen. He also had an RBI groundout in the fifth inning to first put the Drifters on the board.

“I trust Cooper Mullens to make decisions, and the decision was how he felt about handling that pitcher. He had the option to bunt [or] the option to swing away,” Lyle said. “He made the right decision [and] he came up big.”

Hansen, a junior right fielder who recently committed to Marshall University after two seasons at Lower Columbia, was named the Drifter of the Game after picking up two hits in two at-bats, including a double in the eighth inning, which scored the winning run. He also had a single in the third and a walk in the fifth in an overall great offensive day.

“Karsten gave me a big opportunity there, just trying to move him,” Mullens said. “[He] had a huge day, which allowed us to win today.”

Junior third baseman Zach Story was also solid at the plate, finishing with a single and a walk in just three plate appearances. His leadoff walk in the bottom of the fifth led to the Drifters’ first run, which tied the game at one apiece.

The Drifters will look to win their first series of the year on Wednesday night for the second game of a three-game series against the Berries at Hamlin Sports Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

Join us for our Star Wars Night at Hamlin Sports Complex with the Springfield Robotics Club on Wednesday! Star Wars costumed characters will be in attendance for photos. All fans should make sure to wear their best Star Wars costume for the chance to win a prize, voted on by the fans after the 4th inning! Wednesday is also Weenie Wednesday, where hot dogs will be priced at $2 throughout the night. 

Tickets are available online at driftersbaseball.com. The game will be live-streamed for free on the Springfield Drifters’ YouTube Channel.