Cleveland 3, Branch 4
June 13, 2009

BRANCH — A four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Branch Blaze to a 4-3 win over the Cleveland Wildcats in a non-league baseball game on Saturday.

Branch (2-4 overall) had mustered just three hits through the first eight innings, before the first four batters of the ninth all reached base safely.

Josh Lemke and Paul Smith started the inning with back-to-back singles with Peter Liermann following with a double that scored both. Brent Robinson then singled, but was thrown out trying to steal. After a Ryan Lindner fly out, Craig Gossen walked to put the tying run on base and Dan Berres doubled to left-center field to score both Liermann and Gossen for the win.

Lemke, Smith and Robinson each finished with two hits in the game for Branch.

Mark Stolzman had two RBIs for the Wildcats.

Berres scattered six hits and five walks and did not allow an earned run, while striking out four to earn the win for the Blaze, who will host Denmark in a doubleheader today beginning at 1 p.m.

For box score, click here.