for The Hungry Horse News

The Glacier Twins did their best Jekyll-Hyde impersonation during a Sunday doubleheader against the Cranbrook Bandits.

Glacier could do little wrong-ranging from solid starting pitching and sparkling defense to clutch hitting-during a 14-3 first-game victory that lasted five innings because of the mercy rule.

But the Twins appeared like a different team during a 10-8 loss in the second game. Cranbrook led 10-4 after a four-run fifth and withstood the Twins' late charge to notch a split.

Glacier was coming off a runner-up finish at its own Wood Bat Tourney the previous weekend. The Twins posted a 2-2 overall record and fell 6-2 to Walla Walla during the tourney title game.

On Sunday, Glacier capitalized on a quality pitching effort from starter Marty Richter in the opening-game win over Cranbrook. Richter pitched four consecutive scoreless innings to begin the game and scattered seven hits in tossing a complete-game victory.

Outside of the Bandits' three-run fifth-all the runs were unearned-Richter kept Cranbrook's hitters off-stride. But by that time, the Twins already held a commanding lead. Glacier scored seven times in the fourth for a 14-0 advantage.

Jarred Krueger went 4-for-4 and fell just a homer shy of hitting for the cycle to lead Glacier's 10-hit attack. Krueger, tripled, doubled and rapped two singles in the opener. Jesse Paulson also doubled twice and knocked home three runs for Glacier, while Billy Marcial matched Paulson's three-RBI effort. Ben Schwanz, Byron Whitcomb, Scott Palmer and Ryan Stultz each singled for Glacier.

The Twins got off to a great start with a three-run first in the second game, but Cranbrook's five-run second was the difference.

Glacier rallied from a six-run deficit with four runs the final inning. Schwanz lofted a two-run single to key the big frame, but the Twins, who had the tying runner aboard with one out, failed to clutch up at the end.

Paulson capped a nice day at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a double and two singles the second game. Whitcomb and Chris Barnes also went 2-for-3 for Glacier, which matched Cranbrook with 10 hits.

Both teams played sloppy defense and committed six errors.

At the Wood Bat Tourney, Glacier tripped up rival Kalispell 5-4 in extra innings and posted a 12-4 win over Cranbrook. The Twins losses came the hands of Walla Walla.

Against Kalispell, the Twins rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the sixth inning and won the game in the eighth when Justin Cooper knocked home Krueger with an infield single. Krueger opened the inning with a single and Stultz delivered a key double. Stultz finished 2-for-4. Brad Bell started atop the mound allowed just one run over three innings.

Krueger belted a bases-loaded triple in a five-run sixth inning to lead the Twins past Cranbrook, 12-4.

Morgan Phelps and Josh Peterson both had two hits in the win.