The Post-Bulletin, Austin MN
WORTHINGTON — The winning streak for the Riverland softball team has reached 10 games after Friday's doubleheader sweep of Minnesota West.
Riverland rolled to a 12-1 win in five innings for the opener of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference, South Division twinbill. The Lady Blue Devils of Riverland then completed the sweep with a 4-2 win in the late game.
Autumn Jurgensen went the distance on the mound in both games and recorded a pair of wins in the divisional doubleheader. Jurgensen didn't walk any batters in either game and fired a total of 12 strikeouts in the two wins.
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"Autumn did a great job of keeping them off balance and our defense took care of the rest," Riverland coach Dan Swift said. "With the exception of two plays in the second innings, which led to their run, we did a great job in the first game."
Holly Waltz led off with a single in the top of the first and would come around to score the game's first run. The offense for the lady Devils added three more runs in the second inning and broke it open with five runs in the top of the fourth. They won the opener via the 8-run rule.
Things also started well for the Lady Devils with a run in the first inning of the late game. Laura Meyer hit a triple with one out and that was followed by an RBI single from Jessica Wilde.
After the home tied the game with a run in the bottom of the first, the visitors took the lead for good with three runs in the top of the second inning. This rally started with a single by Thenedra Corey.
Justine Sanvick moved the runner to second base, then Corey stole third and later scored on a passed ball. Chelsey Waltz singled and stole second. Mandy May followed with an RBI double to make it 3-1.
Holly Waltz then singled and stole second base to put two runners in scoring position, but they only got one home. Meyer followed with a sacrifice fly to score May for the final run by the Lady Devils.
Minnesota West got a run back in the bottom of the third, then Jurgensen slammed the door. There would be no offense for either team over the final four innings.
"Jurgensen once again kept her pitch count down and kept us in the game," Swift said. "Our defense did a much better job of making plays throughout the game. We played well enough in the second game, but give Minnesota West credit they pushed us all seven innings and it was a tough game."
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Riverland (18-7, 13-1 MCAC South) plays a home doubleheader on Monday in Austin.
FIRST GAME
Riverland 12, Minn. West 1
Riverland ....... 130 53 — 12 14 3
Minn.West ..... 010 00 — 1 2 2
Riverland:Holly Waltz 3-for-4, 2 SB, 2 runs, RBI; Laura Meyer 1-for-3, SB, run, RBI; Jessica Wilde 0-for-1, 3 RBI; Liz Triplett 0-for-3, RBI; Chelsey Swanson 2-for-3, run; Thenedra Corey 1-for-3, run; Christy VanDyke 2-for-3, 3 runs, RBI; Chelsey Waltz 2-for-2, 2B, SB, 2 runs, RBI; Mandy May 3-for-3, SB, 2 runs, 3 RBI. WP: Autumn Jurgensen 5 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 7 K.
SECOND GAME
Riverland 4, Minn. West 2
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Riverland ....... 130 000 0 — 4 7 1
Minn.West ..... 101 000 0 — 2 4 1
Riverland:Meyer 2-for-2, 2B, 3B, walk, run, RBI; Wilde 1-for-4, RBI; Corey 1-for-3, SB, run; Chelsey Waltz 0-for-3, SB, run; May 1-for-3, 2B, run, RBI. WP: Jurgensen 7 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 5 K.
