Madsen, Petersen help Spartans get back on winning track

 ELK HORN (June 21) -- Cole Madsen went 3-for-3 and Tyler Petersen pitched six innings for the win Thursday as the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton baseball team snapped a four-game losing streak by topping Boyer Valley 9-4 in the rain.
 The Spartans (4-8 overall, 3-7 in the Rolling Valley Conference) actually led 11-4 when play was halted in the bottom of the sixth - still batting with two on and nobody out - but the official final score reverted back to the last completed inning.
 A light rain and mist fell throughout much of the game before increasing in intensity later on and forcing the early stoppage.
 For Exira-EHK, it was the first victory since winning 3-2 at Boyer Valley exactly two weeks earlier. The Spartans hadn’t played in nearly a week due to rain outs.
 Petersen (2-2) shook off a rocky first inning that saw the Bulldogs (5-8, 2-8 RVC) take a quick 3-0 lead. The freshman right-hander hit the first batter of the game, then allowed a walk and a single to load the bases. A fielder’s choice scored one run and Ryan Lehan followed with an opposite field two-run double.
 Petersen was solid the rest of the way, surrendering just two hits and one run in the last five innings. He finished with seven strikeouts while walking three.
 Petersen also had a pair of RBI singles on the day to help his team rally.
 Trailing 3-1, the Spartans scored three runs in the third, two in the fourth and three in the fifth to build a five-run lead. Trey Nelson’s two-run single made it 6-3 and Madsen tripled home a run to cap the scoring.