The third time wasn’t a charm for New Ulm Cathedral.

Springfield junior Jaden Mickelson ripped a two-out double to right-center field in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring Branden Flock from first base with the winning run as the Tigers rallied to defeat New Ulm Cathedral 6-5  in the Class 1A semifinals on Saturday at the Mini Met in Jordan.

“He (New Ulm Cathedral pitcher Gabe Knowles) got me earlier in the game,” said Mickelson, who stepped into the batter’s box 0-for-3 on the day with two strikeouts. “I got him when it counted.”

Flock singled with two outs after sophomore Jevan Richert’s sacrifice fly tied it at five-all. He never slowed circling the bases on the hit-and-run play. 

“Our coach called for a hit-and-run, and I was just trying to drive it through the open hole,” Mickelson said. “I was able to get it up in the air.”

The victory was the third for Springfield over New Ulm Cathedral this season. All three were one-run games, with the last two decided on walk-off hits.

“We have a big rivalry with them,” Tigers' starting pitcher Carter Erickson said. The senior opened the seventh with his third hit and scored on Richert’s fly ball. It was Richert’s second sacrifice fly of the game.

“There isn’t a rivalry any better than this,” Erickson said.

The Greyhounds took a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning with a three-run rally. Junior Jack Schwartz lined a base-loaded single to score the first two while senior Brandon Beranek also raced around from first base on the play to score when Springfield decided to throw to second attempting to get the advancing Schwartz.

Beranek earlier hit his second home run in as many days. It was his fourth of the season.

“It’s awesome to beat them three times,” Mickelson said. “I’m speechless.”
The Tigers (23-3) will play defending state champion New Life Academy for the championship Monday at Target Field starting at noon.