The Jordan Brewers traveled down 169 to Joe Schleper Stadium tonight for game 3 of the 5-game series between the two clubs. Chris Rupert asked for the ball after tossing a complete game on Friday. Manager Brannon Weigel obliged after his other option decided WeFest would be more fun than playoff baseball.

Rupert took on the Brewers for his 4th consecutive start and improves every time out. Rupert went 7 1/3 innings allowing 4 runs on 7 hits before tiring. The improvement from the last start he made was that he walked just 3 batters this time and struck out 6. Three of the 4 runs Rupert allowed came in the excitement filled 8th inning. Aaron Olson and Kyle Green worked the 8th and 9th innings on the hill

The Shakopee bats were held in check by Brewer starter Jason Chalupsky. The Indians managed a base runner in every inning but the 5th. But, the big hit again eluded the Indian hitters early in the game.

Shakopee got on the board first in the 3rd. Curt Hartfiel, coming off successful ankle surgery on Monday, led off the inning with a walk. Brandon Olson and Kyle Hoover followed with singles. Hartfiel scored on Hoovers single through the left side of the infield for the first run of the game.

Rupert ran into trouble in the 5th and allowed a run to tie the game. But Shakopee would answer an inning later.

In the sixth, Aaron Olson walked. Troy Wasiloski settled for a double after nearly missing an opposite field home run and the Indians were in business with 2 on and no outs. Reliever Mike Beckius entered the game. He hit Chris Baso with a pitch before Zack Bohar delivered his third hit of the night - a double to the right center gap. Olson and Wasiloski scored. Weigel would follow with a sac fly to score Baso to make the score 4-1.

A. Olson hit a solo home run in the 7th to make the score a little more comfortable at 5-1. But then the fun started.

Rupert ran out of gas in the 8th and left with the score 5-3 after Jordan scored twice. Olson came in relief of Rupert but couldn't find the strike zone. Jordan ended up scoring two more times to tie the game at 5.

In the bottom half of the 8th, Joey Heller stepped to the plate for the first time in a month and worked a walk. Hartfiel reached base on an error. Brandon Olson doubled to score Heller and the Indians had the lead back.

Kyle Green pitched a perfect 9th for the save.

The Indians are getting healthy and that might be just what they need to get back to the state tournament in 2011. Before anyone goes anywhere there is still a series to complete vs Jordan. The Indians need one more victory to win the series and accomplish the goal of getting back to state for the third year in a row.

Game 4 is in Jordan on Thursday at 7:30. We hope to see Indian blue in the stands on Thursday!

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Jordan	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	4	0	5	8	1
Shakopee	0	0	1	0	0	3	1	1	x	6	9	1

WP-A.Olson
S - K. Green