Pitchers shine in Northstars' sweep of Tri-County team

The Havre Northstars weren't about to waste the best day of weather in two weeks.

The Northstars used stellar pitching and timely hitting to sweep the Tri-County Cardinals in a nonconference doubleheader on a picturesque Mother's Day at Legion Field.

Havre pitchers Ian Spencer and Tyler Thompson limited the Cardinals to four hits and one run on the day.

Spencer picked up a five-inning shutout in the opener as the Northstars cruised to a 10-0 win.

Spencer allowed just two hits while striking out eight in the win and walking just three batters.

The Northstars were led offensively by catcher Levi Briese, who picked up a pair of hits including a three-run triple and an RBI single. Briese, who had missed much of the preseason with an ankle injury, finished with four RBIs on the day. Corey Junck and Daine Solomon also had solid games at the plate. Junck had a pair of RBI singles while Solomon had a pair of hits, including a solo home run.

In the nightcap, Thompson didn't get the shutout, but the one run the Cardinals managed was unearned as the Northstars picked up a 4-1 win.

Tri-County's lone run came in the fifth inning to tie the game at one. But Havre broke the game open an inning later as Junck led off with a single, followed by back-to-back doubles from Solomon and Thompson. Spencer scored Thompson on a sacrifice fly to give the Northstars a 3-1 lead.

Thompson closed out the Cardinals in the seventh to secure the win.

With the win, the Northstars improved to 3-4 on the season and will be in action on Tuesday when they travel to Great Falls to take on the Great Falls Stallions AA squad.

Game 1

TRI-COUNTY 000 00 - 0 2 1

NORTHSTARS 181 0X - 10 12 0

Ian Spencer (WP) and Levi Briese; Pyette, Gordan and Zell.

TRI-COUNTY - Styran 0-3, Christiens 0-1, Zell 2-2, Snyder 0-2, Pickerd 0-2, Smith 0-2, Rosenberger 0-2, Ahrens 0-1, Fitzgerald 0-1.

NORTHSTARS - Adam Jensen 2-2 (2 runs), Levi Briese 2-4 (4 RBI), Corey Junck 2-4 (2 RBI), Daine Solomon 2-2 (1 RBI), Tyler Thompson 3-3, Ian Spencer 1-3, Chazz Hurlburt 0-2, Tyson Roe 0-2, Brandon Morse 1-2 (1 RBI)

3B - Briese

HR - Solomon

TRI-COUNTY 000 010 0 - 1 2 1

NORTHSTARS 100 003 X - 4 6 1

Tyler Thompson (WP) and Adam Jensen; Alford (LP) and Pyette.

TRI-COUNTY - Pyette 0-1, Snyder 0-3, Zell 0-3, Alford 0-3, Gordon 0-3, Smith 2-3, Tokrud 1-3, Gardipee 0-3, Boggs 0-3.

NORTHSTARS - Adam Jensen 2-3, Levi Briese 0-3, Corey Junck 1-2 (1 RBI), Daine Solomon 1-3 (1 RBI), Tyler Thompson 1-3 (1 RBI), Chazz Hurlburt 0-2, Mark Benjamin 0-1, Ian Spencer 1-2 1(1 RBI), Tyson Roe 0-3, Brandon Morse 0-1, Bobby Bergren 0-1.

2B - Jensen, Solomon, Thompson.