By DALE KUGATH
Scoop Sports Editor

MANKATO - The Waseca Braves stayed close to the defending state champs early but were unable to sustain for an entire game.

After pulling within 6-4 in the sixth inning, the Mankato Twins came to life with two runs in the bottom of the sixth and six runs in the eighth to capture a 14-4, eight-inning win over the Braves in Mankato July 29.

The Twins defeated Waseca 15-1 in seven innings in the first meeting.

The victory improved Mankato to 17-2 for the year, including 6-0 against section foes. The Twins will be the top seed in the upcoming Section 4B Tournament.

The Braves lost their second straight game and third in the last four starts. Waseca is 6-8 in league games, 1-4 against section foes and 13-11 overall.

After a scoreless first inning, Waseca grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second when Scott Hanson launched his team-leading fourth home run of the summer over the left field fence.

Mankato answered with two of its own runs in the bottom of the inning. Dane Allen belted a leadoff round tripper and Chase Brown added an RBI single later in the inning.

The Twins stretched their lead to 6-1 with a four-run fourth inning. Steve Hovland got in trouble by walking the first two batters, and Ben Kaus delivered an RBI double. Jay Nessler also had a run-scoring single in the inning.

Waseca fought back in the sixth inning, knocking out Mankato starter Zach Danielson. Jim Loonan opened the inning with a two-bagger, and Chad Hollerud followed with a base hit. Two runs scored on an error and Andrew Beckmann added an RBI single.

The Twins came right back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and then wrapped things up with a six-run eighth inning. Mankato had five hits, a walk and a hit batter while batting around in the eighth inning.

Hovland took the loss, falling to 4-3. He was roughed up for nine hits and eight earned runs in seven innings of work. Hovland walked four and struck out four.

Jay Watje was charged with six earned runs and five hits in two-thirds of an inning. He hit a batter and walked one.

Kaus led the winners with three hits in five trips. He scored twice and knocked in two runs.

Brown, Allen and Travis Helling chipped in with two hits apiece.

The Twins made two errors and stranded nine base runners.

Danielson picked up the win, allowing eight hits and four earned runs in five and one-third innings. He walked three and struck out seven.

Joe Kern hurled two and two-third innings of scoreless relief. He gave up two hits, did not walk a batter and fanned four.

Beckmann, Hanson and Hollerud had two hits apiece for the Braves.

Grady Glynn, Hovland, Loonan and Chris Glynn added one hit each.

The Braves made four errors and stranded six base runners.