Solid pitching and timely hitting lead Shields to victory

Begby, Fredrikstad – For the first time in team history, the Moss baseball team opened the season with a win, this time taking two games from the Fredrikstad Bears. The Shields, playing in front of a large following of supporters, won the first game 22-8 and the second game of the double header 8-6.

“Going into the games I had mixed emotion, nerves, excitement, and great expectations,” team leader Brian Howard said. “I was pleased with the wins. Offensively everyone did their part. Defensively we were shaky and I was a little disappointed, but overall I was satisfied with the team’s performance.”

Sunday's first victory for Moss (2-0) over the Bears (0-2) came at the arm of right hander Christian Hågensen (1-0), making the 2nd start of his career. Hågensen tossed four innings, allowing just ten hits and six earned runs while striking out six batters. Hågensen made quick work of the Bears in the second and third inning, only needing to throw seven pitches in the second.

"Throwing from the pitcher’s mound was very awkward for the first 10-12 pitches," Hågensen said. "In the first inning I felt like I was missing outside a lot. I was able to make a few adjustments and was pleased with my performance after the first three or four batters. It felt great to mix in a few strike outs."

Right-handed pitcher Michael Andersen entered the game in the fifth inning with the Shields clinging to an 11-7 lead. He pitched three innings, allowing four hits and a walk, while recording two strikeouts. He was credited with the hold.

The Shields tallied 21 hits, seven of which were with two outs that drove in four runs. Glenn-Andre Kristiansen contributed to the run production with a homerun to lead off the sixth and a two run double in the seventh, to help increase the Moss lead, 15-7.

In the second game of the day, Fredrikstad’s Fihlip Cepeden (0-1) was credited with the loss. Cepeden threw the complete seven innings and allowed 12 hits, 11 strike outs, and six earned runs. Cepeden and the solid Bears defense held the Shields scoreless through the first three innings of play.

It wasn’t until the fourth that the Shields could scratch out a couple runs. In the fifth Moss hitters seemed to get their timing and put together 3 consecutive hits, one of which was off the bat of Jan Willem Triemstra, which broke the 5-5 tie in the inning with an RBI single.

Peter Risberg was one of only three Moss players to record multiple hits in the second game, finishing the day six-for-nine with four RBI’s, one run scored, and two stolen bases.

"What impressed me the most was that all those runs with two outs, somebody different stepped up and had the clutch hit," T.J. Collins said. "Everyone in the lineup contributed to the success of the team this weekend and it really helped us improve and get better heading into our next game."

Moss outscored the Bears 30-14 in two games, 10 runs coming with two outs.

The Shields head to Oslo June 1st to play the Oslo Pretenders 2 in a double header at Rommen Field.