Softball team pummels Maple River before being blanked by Jordan
After opening the Section 2A Tournament with a football-like score, hits and runs were tough to come by for the NRHEG softball team.
The Panthers, seeded seventh among 15 teams, managed only three hits Thursday in a 4-0 loss to second-seeded Jordan, two days after pulverizing No. 10 Maple River 26-0 at New Richland.
The Panthers, 16-6, were scheduled to play No. 6 seed Belle Plaine Saturday, but that game was postponed to Memorial Day because of rain. The tournament continued Tuesday and is scheduled to wrap up June 2 at Caswell Park in Mankato.
Jordan 4, NRHEG 0
The Panthers collected just three hits off Jordan senior Paige Pitlick, who struck out 10 and walked none.
Paige Knudson doubled. Gabby Muri and Torrie Stencel singled.
The Panthers Anna Lundberg gave up two earned runs on six hits, with one strikeout and four walks. Jordan hit two over-the-fence home runs.
“Jordan played a great game,” said Panthers coach Wendy Schultz. “Their pitcher kept us off-balance and we couldn’t get any hits going. I was proud of the way our defense played. Rachel and Paige had a lot of action on the left side of the infield. They both made many great plays.”
NRHEG 26, Maple River 0
The Panthers plated eight first-inning runs, seven in the second and six apiece in the third and fourth to destroy the Gopher Conference co-champions. They outhit the Eagles 24-3.
Leaders: Muri 4-for-4, two RBIs, three runs; Kayley Camerer 4-for-5, five RBIs, double, four runs; Skylar Lembke 3-for-4, three runs; Rachel Collins 3-for-5, three runs; Paige Knudson 2-for-4, double, two stolen bases; Grace Johns 2-for-4, three RBIs, two runs; Lundberg 2-for-5, two RBIs, double; Stencel 2-for-5, three RBIs, double, two runs. Contributing one hit each were Sophie Thompson and Sarah Johns. Jayna Finseth and Natalie Aaseth drove in one run each.
Lundberg earned the pitching win, striking out four and walking one.
“The girls came out to play,” said Schultz. “We started the game off with eight hits in the first inning and continued throughout the game. Anna pitched well. Defensively, the girls made the routine plays.”