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The Dogs had 12 hits to score eight runs in the win, which raised their record in the West Central Conference North to 2-1.

Hansen hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning to give the Dogs a 2-0 lead. Senior Justin Butkofski and Beier followed with doubles later in the inning to increase that lead to 3-0.

The Dogs added two more runs in the third inning - including an RBI double by junior John Hemingson - to take a 5-0 lead.

LPGE got all three of their runs in the top of the fourth on a three-run homer. Beier earned the pitching victory with a complete game. "Our pitching is really starting to come around," said coach Brad Skoglund. "I'm really pleased."

Senior Brandon Berg had three hits as the Bulldogs swept two games last week, beating LPGE 8-3 and Howard Lake-Waverly 12-1.

Beier did a good job of staying aggressive against LPGE, throwing strikes and making the Thunder batters put the ball in play, said Skoglund. Beier did allow eight hits, but he did not walk a single batter.

After LPGE made the score 5-3, the Dogs answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by senior Mike Mueller and with two runs in the bottom of the sixth on an LPGE outfield error.

This week, the Dogs start a four-game stretch of conference road games. This week will be key for the Dogs, said Skoglund.

The Dogs have three road games this week: at Sauk Centre on Tuesday; at Melrose on Thursday (in a make-up game from last week, as this game was scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, but was postponed due to the cold weather); and at Albany on Friday, May 6. Next week, the Dogs will travel to St. Cloud to play the top-rated Crusaders on Tuesday, May 10.

LPGE--	000	300	0	- 3	8	2
Paynesville--	302	102	x	- 8	12	3

LPGE - Batting: Terry Rahn 2-4 HR RBI-3; Carlos Castillo 2-3; Pitching: (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) Craig Kern (L) (2-7-5-5-1-2); Nate Minka (4-5-3-1-1-3).

Paynesville - Batting: Justin Butkofski 3-3 2B-2 R-3; Brandon Berg 2-3; Chris Beier 2-3 2B R-2; Jamie Paul 2-4 R-2; Trent Hansen 1-4 HR RBI-2; Mike Mueller 1-3 RBI; John Hemingson 1-3 RBI-2; Pitching: (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) Beier (W) (7-8-3-2-0-5).

Paynesville 12, HL-W 1
The Bulldogs scored 12 runs on only six hits, benefitting from six Laker errors, in beating Howard Lake-Waverly 12-1 on Friday.

The Dogs improved their season record to 7-3 with the win.

Howard Lake-Waverly, whom the Dogs beat 13-6 in the subsection finals last year, scored their run in the top of the first, getting three singles to score. Senior Mike Mueller ended the inning by gunning down another Laker baserunner trying to score. His throw from leftfield to catcher John Hemingson beat the runner trying to score from second base.

The Dogs scored two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead with senior Justin Butkofski and Mueller getting hits in the inning.

The Dogs scored seven runs in the third inning to take a 9-1 lead. Juniors John Hemingson and Trent Hansen had doubles in the rally, senior Brandon Berg and junior Jamie Paul singled, and the Dogs were aided by three walks and a Laker error in the rally.

The Dogs finished their scoring with three runs in the bottom of the fourth as Howard Lake-Waverly made three errors.

Butkofski threw a complete game for the pitching victory for the Dogs.

HL-W--	100	00x	x	- 1	4	6
Paynesville--	207	3xx	x	- 12	6	1

Paynesville - Batting: Mike Mueller 1-3 2B SB R-3; John Hemingson 1-2 2B R RBI-2; Trent Hansen 1-2 2B R; Justin Butkofski 1-2; Jamie Paul 1-3 SB R-2; Brandon Berg 1-3 R; Pitching: (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) Butkofski (W) (5-4-1-0-4-4).