By John RittenhouseThe Luverne Redbirds bounced back from a playoff-opening loss to Hills July 16 by posting a 7-2 win over Pipestone during a loser’s bracket game of the Gopher League event Sunday in Luverne.The Redbirds struck for five runs in the first inning and went on to win by five to stay alive in the double-elimination event.Luverne, 14-9 overall, earned a rematch against Hills with the victory. The two teams squared off in an elimination game played at Redbird Field Wednesday night. The winner of the game will play Hadley or Wilmont Friday.The Redbirds were never seriously challenged after scoring five runs in the home half of the first against Pipestone.Mike Wenninger delivered a two-run single to open the scoring and Luke Iveland doubled home a pair of runs to highlight the inning. Jesse Reisch received an RBI when he drew a bases-loaded walk.The score was 7-0 when Brian Weber singled home a run and Billy Schneider scored on a wild pitch in the fifth inning.Pipestone plated single runs in the sixth and eighth innings, but the A’s were unable to come back on the Redbirds.Jon Jarchow pitched the first three innings for the Redbirds, blanking the A’s without allowing a hit. Jarchow fanned six batters.Terry Eernisse pitched six innings of relief to pick up the win. He allowed two runs (one was earned) and five hits while recording five strikeouts.Box score AB R H BIOhme 4 0 0 0Fisher 1 0 0 0Edstrom 4 0 1 0J.Sehr 4 1 1 0Wenninger 5 1 4 2M.Sehr 3 1 2 0Schneider 0 1 0 0Weber 5 1 3 1Jarchow 0 0 0 0Sandbulte 5 1 1 0Reisch 2 0 1 1Iveland 3 0 1 2
