Conference play begins for ’Hawks

The Vermilion Ironhawks were in dire need of a win Sunday afternoon, and TJ Frein made sure it happened.

The sophomore lefthander worked out of a bases-loaded, one out jam in the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back strikeouts and then delivered a key run-scoring hit in the top of the eighth as the community college baseball team got past rival Mesabi 10-6 in eight innings at Rock Ridge.

Frein, who is from Bloomington, gained his third win of the season on the mound and raised his batting average to a sizzling .404 as the Ironhawks salvaged the final game of an otherwise disappointing four-game, Northern Division set.