Minneapolis (AP) — The Beagle Brigade took a 5-4 lead into the top of the seventh before a series of defensive mishaps led to five Rock Bottom runs, spoiling the Brigade’s season opener.

The Beagle Brigade struck early, scoring three runs in the first inning. After walking the leadoff batter, starter Ryan Glanzer (0-1) settled into a groove, holding Rock Bottom scoreless until some guy hit a solo home run in the third cutting the lead to 3-1.

The Brigade answered with single runs in the third and fourth, including a home run by Craig Karjalainen, taking a 5-2 lead into the sixth.

“I felt like we were in a pretty good groove in those middle innings,” said Glanzer. “We were fielding the ball really well, then things kinda unraveled a little.  Offensively, we couldn’t string hits together like we did in the first.”

The Brigade fell to a bizarre call by the umpire in the sixth.  Leading 5-2, a hit to the outfield put runners on second and third with one out.  Left-center fielder Matt Hanson jogged the ball back into the infield and tossed the ball towards home plate.  Assuming time had been called by the umpire, as had been the case all night on such plays, Glanzer and catcher Gillian Woodburn watched as the ball trickled past them.  The umpire then declared the runners were allowed to advance a base each, as the ball was never touched by an infielder, thereby keeping the play alive.  The unusual call seemed to come as a surprise to both teams.

The Brigade failed to score in the bottom of the seventh despite a rare switch-hit single by Walsh to keep the inning alive.

As if the crippling defeat weren’t tough enough to swallow, third basewoman Lauren Poulter Glanzer suffered a bruised forearm when a rocket line drive ricocheted off her arm.  Team doctors have listed her as day-to-day.  A couple frosty mugs of microbrew Hefeweizen at sponsor bar The Herkimer afterwards seemed to alleviate some of the pain.