The Luverne Cardinals baseball team went 3-0 last week to remain undefeated. With two wins over St. James and a win over Fairmont the Cardinals improved to 6-0 on the season.
“Most of our games could have gone either way in the win, loss column,” Luverne head coach Mike Wenninger said.
“Teams are very competitive and for the most part equal in talent. We have struggled defensively, which will catch up with us if we don't work to improve.”
In St. James on Thursday, April 22, the Cardinals defeated St. James 8-2 and 10-0.
The Cardinals then returned home on Friday, April 23, and defeated Fairmont 3-2.
The Cardinals won their first game of the doubleheader against St. James, 8-2.
The Cardinals scored five runs in the first two innings to take an early 5-0 lead.
St. James was able to get one run back in the bottom of the second to cut into Luverne’s 5-1 lead.
With the Cardinals holding a 5-1 lead heading into the seventh inning, Luverne added three insurance runs to make it an 8-1 ballgame.
St. James scraped across a run in the bottom half of the inning to make the final score 8-2.
The Cardinals limited the home team to just two hits in game.
Ethan Beyer pitched 6.1 innings, scattering two hits and recording six strikeouts.
Connor Connell picked up three hits for the Cardinals, including a double.
Cade Wenninger collected two hits for the Cardinals, including a double.
Luke Bosch drove in a pair of runs for the Cardinals.
Wenninger pitched a no-hitter in the second game of the doubleheader. With the St. James' bats silenced, the Cardinals cruised to a 10-0 victory.
Wenninger pitched a complete-game no-hitter and recorded six strikeouts.
“The team has pitched well as a whole and we’ve put some quality at bats together at the right time,” Wenninger said. “Great practices will help us to continue to get better.”
At the plate, Wenninger drove in a pair of runs for the Cardinals.
Bailey Cowell hit a double and drove in a pair of runs for Luverne.
Trygve Gangestad drove in a pair of runs and drew a pair of walks for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals will look to stay undefeated on Tuesday, April, 27, when they travel to Pipestone to take on the Pipestone Area Arrows.
Luverne will then return home for a contest against Jackson County Central on Thursday, April 29.