The Luverne softball season came to an end Saturday, June 5, in Pipestone at the hands of the Pipestone Area Arrows.
The Cardinals went 2-2 in section tournament play, with both losses coming to the top-seeded Arrows.
Luverne started the section tournament by defeating Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 4-2 on Tuesday, June 1, in Pipestone.
Following Luverne’s victory over TMB, the Cardinals lost to Pipestone 4-0.
On Saturday, June 5, in Pipestone, the Cardinals defeated Windom Area 3-0.
The Cardinals could not solve Pipestone’s pitching, as they fell to the Arrows 7-0 on Saturday, June 5.
LHS 4, TMB 2
After holding the Panthers off the scoreboard in the top of the first inning, the Cardinals scored a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning to take an early 2-0 lead.
Billi Connell led off the inning with a hard-hit single. Connell then advanced to second on an error.
With runners on the corners and no outs, Roz Oye hit an RBI single to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
A sac-bunt from Averill Sehr put the Cardinals up 2-0.
After giving up a hit to start the second inning, Luverne’s catcher, Carly Olson, picked off the runner for the first out.
Gracie Nath then recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
Nath opened the third inning by striking out the first two batters she faced.
The Cardinals added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning to open up a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth inning, Nath recorded a pair of strikeouts.
The Panthers finally broke through in the top of the fifth inning to trim Luverne’s lead to 4-1.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Oye hit a one-out double, but unfortunately the Cardinals were unable to drive her in for a run.
Luverne right fielder Reghan Bork made a running catch in right field to record the first out in the top of the sixth inning.
The Panthers drew a leadoff walk to start the seventh inning.
TMB scored a run to make it a 4-2 ballgame.
The Panthers loaded the bases with two outs but were unable to score the tying run, as the Cardinals held on to win 4-2.
Nath finished the game with seven strikeouts.
TMB 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 7 2
LHS 2 0 2 0 0 0 x 4 6 0
Hitting: Connell 1-3; Robinson 1-3; Olson 1-3; Oye 2-3; Kracht 1-2
Doubles: Oye, Connell
PAS 4, LHS 0
The Cardinals could not figure out Pipestone’s starting pitcher as they only mustered two hits and struck out 12 times on Tuesday, June 1.
With the bats silenced, the Cardinals fell to the Arrows 4-0.
The Arrows scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead.
Pipestone added one run in the bottom of the fifth inning and the bottom of the sixth inning to make the final score 4-0.
LHS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
PAS 2 0 0 0 1 1 x 4 5 1
Batting: Connell 1-3; Sehr 1-3
LHS 3, Windom 0
The Cardinals blanked the Eagles 3-0 on Saturday, June 5, in Pipestone.
Nath gave up only four hits against the Eagles. With Windom’s bats silenced by Nath and Luverne’s defense, the Cardinals only needed three runs to advance in the section tournament.
With the game tied at 0-0, the Cardinals scored one run in the top of the fourth inning.
Luverne added two more runs for good measure in the top of the seventh inning to pick up the 3-0 victory.
Anika Boll, Shelby Kracht and Oye all hit doubles for the Cardinals. Averill Sehr hit a triple
LHS 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 3 6 1
Windom 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Hitting: Robinson 1-3; Oye 1-3; Sehr 1-3; Boll 1-2; Kracht 1-3; Smidt 1-1
Doubles: Boll; Kracht; Oye
Triples: Sehr
RBI: Beyer 2; Kracht
PAS 7, LHS 0
Prior to Saturday’s matchup with the Arrows, the Cardinals had faced Pipestone three times during the 2021 season.
In the three previous meetings the Arrows had outscored the Cardinals 29-1, with two shutouts.
That trend continued in Pipestone on Saturday in the section tournament. The Arrows blanked Luverne 7-0 to end the Cardinals’ season.
The Arrows scored six runs in the first three innings. Pipestone added one more run in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the final score 7-0.
With the loss the Cardinals finished the 2021 season with an 11-13 record.
LHS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2
PAS 2 3 1 0 1 0 x 7 9 0
Batting: Connell 1-3; Robinson 1-3; Smidt 1-3