GRAND CHUTE – Someone finally had to give in the eighth inning and unfortunately for the Barneveld baseball team, starting pitcher Weston Peterson and usual-reliable reliever Patrick Clerkin walked in a run in the top of the eighth.

With a small margin for error with Marion’s Justin Remminger dealing, that run proved to be enough in the Mustangs’ 1-0 victory in the WIAA Division 4 state semifinal game Wednesday at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

“This is my fourth game this year going eight or more innings,” Remminger said. “I train myself in the offseason to keep on going and keep everything moving on the mound.”

The win means the Mustangs get a shot to play Chippewa Falls McDonell Central Thursday morning at 9 for the WIAA Division 4 state title.

“We’re real proud that our fans here for a Division 4 game in the morning really made our conference and Division 4 baseball look real good today,” Marion coach Harold Franke said. “We are a team that no one really expected to make it this far. Call us an underdog, maybe, maybe not anymore, we’re just going to take it one game at a time.”

Barneveld (22-4) went with starter Weston Peterson to start the eighth inning, but after a one-out single and a walk to the next batter, coach Lance Schmitz had to make the move to Clerkin.

“I bring (Clerkin) in all the time to close games out all year and that was the first time he’s given up the lead,” Barneveld coach Lance Schmitz said. “It was a great pitcher’s duel and if I had to do it again, I would bring him out there again. He’s been lights out all year.”

Ethan Miller drew the bases loaded walk which brought in Eric Kroening for the only run of the game.

The run in the eighth was Marion’s best chance to get a run in. Barneveld had a chance of its own in the sixth inning.

Peterson flew out to deep left center field and Josh Slaney, who was on second, tagged and tried to score. He was thrown out on a great relay throw from Matt Mielke to Cody Reimer to catcher Tyler Shoen.

“They had to throw the ball 385 feet with two perfect throws with no hops and they did it,” Schmitz said. “That’s the fastest kid on my team. The most aggressive guy on my team. This team took chances all year long. That’s why we’re here. If we wouldn’t have taken those chances, we wouldn’t be here.”

The Golden Eagles would not have a better shot to score the rest of the game as the Remminger kept the Mustangs (26-2) on top with nine strikeouts.

FULL GAME STATS