By Merchants beat writer, Billy Bumbomber

Fargo, ND – After 11 straight defeats at the hands of the Moorhead Brewers, the Jamestown Miller Light Merchants finally broke through and defeated the Brewers 4-3 Sunday night at Jack Williams Stadium.

Early in the game it looked like the Brewers would extend their streak to 12. Merchant starter Brandon Baumgartner gave up a first inning two-run homer to Landon Uetz to put the M’s in an early hole.

“I thought here we go again”, stated Baumgartner who was 0-5 in his career against the Brewers coming into the game tonight.

The Brewers tacked on another run in the third to extend their lead to 3-0. The score would stay that way till the fifth. The Merchants loaded the bases with no outs against Brewers starter Ryan Olson. Jared Purdy got the Merchants on the board first with an RBI single.

The big hit of the inning came from Brady Anderson, who was in his first game back from the MINK League. Anderson’s two RBI single to left with the bases loaded tied the game up at three. 

After the Merchants tied it up, Baumgartner shut down the Brewers bats the rest of the night, allowing only four Brewers to reach base the rest of the game.

The winning run for Merchants came in the sixth. Dakotah Kirchenwitz reached base via walk and Bryan Erstad laced a clutch two out RBI single to left field to give the M’s the lead.

Baumgartner scattered nine hits on the mound to pick up his seventh victory for the year. Andrew Hill along with Purdy and Anderson each had two hits for the Merchants.

The victory for the Merchants was their first against the Brewers since June 23, 2013.

The Merchants (17-7) will look to wrap up the regular season Wednesday night at Merchant Field against the Mayville Redcaps.