Cormorants, A’s split doubleheader

Aurora starter DJ Miller fires a pitch during the A’s 6-4 win over Volga in Game 2 of an Eastern Dakota League amateur baseball doubleheader on Sunday at The Nest at Hoff Field in Volga. Miller threw five innings to help the A’s salvage a split. The Cormorants won the opener, 4-0, behind Paul Santema’s six-hitter. Photo by Sean Welsh/Register

VOLGA – The Cormorants and Aurora A’s split an Eastern Dakota League amateur baseball doubleheader on a warm Sunday at The Nest at Hoff Field.

Volga took the opener 4-0; and Aurora, the designated home team in Game 2, took the nightcap by a 6-4 margin.

Aurora (15-7, 13-3 EDL) plays host to Flandreau on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Volga (5-11 EDL) travels to Lake Norden to face the Lakers on Sunday at 7 p.m.



Game 1

• Volga 4, Aurora 0

The Cormorants backed up a solid outing on the mound by Paul Santema with a four-run fifth inning, highlighted by a three-run home run by Tyler Holderby.

Santema limited the A’s to six hits in a complete-game showing to earn the win.

Adam Mills and Curt Anderson both had two hits for the A’s. Rob Bortnem took the loss after allowing four runs on eight hits in six innings.



VOLGA 4, AURORA 0

Aurora 000 000 0 – 0 6 4

Volga 000 040 x – 4 8 1

Rob Bortnem and Adam Langland; Paul Santema and Levi Larsen. W – Santema. L – Bortnem. HR: V, Tyler Holderby. 2B: A, Adam Mills.



Game 2

• Aurora 6, Volga 4

Anderson and Ty Schneider homered to help the A’s salvage a split.

Anderson’s solo shot gave Aurora a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third. After Volga tied the game at 3-all in the top of the fourth, Schneider put the A’s up for good – 5-3 – with a two-run bomb in the fourth.

Aurora added a run in the bottom of the sixth and Volga scored once in the seventh to provide for the final margin.

The A’s recorded four consecutive singles in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Volga answered with single runs in the second and third to knot the score at 2-2.

DJ Miller earned the pitching win after allowing three runs in five innings. Mike Holen threw the final two frames to pick up the save.

Randy Santema hit a home run for Volga. Nate Kramer added two hits, including a double. Josh Nelson took the pitching loss after going 3 1/3 innings and giving up five runs.



AURORA 6, VOLGA 4

Volga 011 100 1 – 4 9 3

Aurora 201 201 x – 6 11 2

Josh Nelson, Brady Will (4), Randy Santema (6) and Tanner Thompson-Moad; DJ Miller, Mike Holen (6) and Drew Carroll, Curtis Anderson. W – Miller. L – Nelson. Sv. – Holen.