MANDAN -- Mandan right-fielder Tanner Schaf doesn't usually get a chance to hit, so the only home run he can hit is with his arm.
Schaf had a grand slam Thursday night, throwing out the tying run at the plate in the sixth inning to preserve Mandan's 1-0 win over Grand Forks Red River in the quarterfinal round of the North Dakota Class A state baseball tournament.
Schaf attacked Taylor Steen's single, made a perfect throw to first-baseman Andy Conlon and Conlon nailed Jake LaDouceur at the plate to end the threat.
The game was a pitchers' duel, so scoring opportunities were limited.
"With three hits, I had to take a chance," Red River coach Mark Varriano said. "It was as simple as that."
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Reid Jungling took it from there, retiring the Roughriders in the seventh to get the three-hit shutout. The Braves will play Bismarck in tonight's semifinals, while Red River meets Devils Lake in the consolation round today.
Afterward, Schaf said he was happy to contribute in any way.
"I do what I can for the team," Schaf said. "We've got better hitters on the team, I just want to do what I can."
Jungling and Red River pitcher Ryne Anderson locked in a pitchers' duel for seven innings. Jungling gave up just three singles, struck out two and walked one.
Anderson, however, struggled with his control. He struck out seven but walked seven, including what proved to be the winning run.
"One hit, but the walk killed him," Varriano said. "Walks will always kill you. When you put people on base it puts pressure on the defense."
The first Mandan runner to get into scoring position scored.
Brett Bryan walked to lead off the fifth, the fifth walk of the game by Anderson. The first four had been stranded at first, but Bryan made his way to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Dwight Mack's two-out single.
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Mack poked a liner just past diving third-baseman Dawson Hahn for the Braves' only hit and the game's only run.
Schaf made sure it stayed a one-run game.
"You know if it's on the ground you have to pick it up and throw them out, especially in a close game like this," Schaf said.
