Fargo, ND – The Jamestown Miller Lite Merchants are now 4-3 on the season after a pair of victories over the Fargo Mets coupled with a thrilling extra inning loss to the Mayville Redcaps in Fargo League play.

In their first matchup against the Fargo Mets on June 17, the Merchants jumped all over the Mets early getting out to 8-2 lead after 4. Highlighted by a Bryan Erstad laser double off the centerfield fence.

Erstad collect three hits for the M’s and Dan Ross added two hits in his season debut after his extended deck building absence.

On the mound, Greg Lunski picked up his 72nd career Merchant win tossing three innings of one run ball.

On June 24, the Merchants were upended by the Mayville Redcaps in 11 innings. This back and forth affair saw something that hadn’t happened in 2,523 days, a Preston Jensen homer run. The Jensen homer followed by a Bryan Erstad homer tied the game up at four after five innings.

The Merchants finally took the lead after scoring a run in the bottom of the 8th on a Beau Brunsvold triple. However, the Redcaps down to their final strike in the 9th got a single by Danny Scholand to tie the game up and send it to extras.

After both teams were scoreless in the 10th, the Redcaps plated two runs against Merchant reliever Brandon Baumgartner and then sent the M’s down in order to win 7-5.

“I need two weeks off.” Baumgartner was quoted saying as he headed to the parking lot.

Well Baumgartner got his wish; the Merchants had the following week off and resumed play two weeks later on July 8 against the Fargo Mets once again.

This time it was the Dan Ross show, as he connected for two three-run homers.

“Looks like I’ll need to have a Red Bull and a footlong Spicy Italian sub from Subway before every game now,” boasted Dan as he came back in from his curtain in front of the 24 fans in attendance that night.

The M’s jumped all over the Mets starter and after a pair of three-run homers by Ross and Bryan Erstad, it was 11-3 Merchants after three frames.

The game was still 11-3 until the 8th when Ross hit his second three-run homer into the night sky. After a scoreless bottom half of the inning the Merchants won via the 10-run rule, 14-3.

Greg Lunski picked up another win on the mound to move to 2-0 on the season.

The Miller Lite Merchants are back at next Wednesday to take on the Moorhead Mudcats at Helling Field. First Pitch 7:02 PM, Greg Lunski will most likely get the start.

Note: Congratulations to Merchant pitcher John Eckstein as he ties the knot this weekend.