The Luverne High School softball team opened post-season play Tuesday, May 24, with an 11-6 victory over Windom at home after earning a bye for the first playoff game.
Playoff action continued in Marshall Saturday, May 28, when the Cardinals beat Dassel-Cokato 1-0 but lost to Pipestone 7-6.
The Cardinals dropped down to the loser bracket and will play Tuesday, May 31, in Marshall to try and earn their way back into the section championship game Thursday, June 2, in Marshall.
LHS 11, Windom 6
First-seeded Luverne had a bye for the first playoff game and played Windom in the second game played in Luverne.
The Cardinals started off strong May 24 against Windom in the bottom of the first inning with a lead-off homerun from Billi Connell. Carly Olson hit a single but was unable to score. The Cardinals led the Eagles 1-0 after one inning.
Windom scored two runs in the second inning, but Luverne was unable to put a run on the board. Windom took the lead 2-1 after two, outscoring the Cardinals again in the third inning with two runs.
Luverne was still unable to score to bring the Windom lead to 4-1.
The Cardinals took back the lead 5-4 in the fourth inning, scoring four runs. Kendall Buss and Anika Boll both singled to help regain the lead.
Luverne busted it open in the fifth inning with three more runs. Peyton Behr hit a double, Olson singled, Reghan Bork singled and Buss hit a sacrifice fly for the Cardinals.
Windom scored two runs in the sixth, but Luverne was able to win the inning with three more runs. Behr and Buss both hit singles to take the Cardinals to an 11-6 lead over Windom in the sixth.
Windom was unable to score any runs in the seventh. The Cardinals’ 11-6 victory secured them a place in the second round of playoffs in Marshall on Saturday, May 28.
Grace Nath recorded the win, throwing all seven innings. She allowed six runs on seven hits, struck out four, and walked two.
Box score AB R H RBI
B Connell 1 2 1 1
P Behr 4 2 2 2
C Olson 2 0 2 0
R Bork 4 1 2 0
K Buss 3 1 2 3
A Boll 3 1 1 2
B Smidt 2 0 0 1
J Smith 3 0 0 0
E Reisdorfer 2 1 0 0
LHS 1, D-C 0
Luverne faced Dassel-Cokato on Saturday, May 28, in Marshall for a game that remained scoreless for eight innings.
Connell had a hit in the first inning. Ella Reisdorfer hit a single in the eighth inning, but Luverne was still unable to manufacture any runs.
The Cardinals were able to put some runners on base in the ninth inning when a Dassel-Cokato error let Bork get on base. Buss bunted, advancing Bork, who was able to score on another Dassel-Cokato error.
Luverne kept Dassel-Cokato from scoring in the ninth, and the Cardinals advanced to the next game.
Gracie Nath threw all nine innings for the Cardinals and shut out Dassel-Cokato allowing six hits, striking out 11 and walking one.
Box score AB R H RBI
B Connell 3 0 2 0
P Behr 4 0 0 0
C Olson 3 0 0 0
R Bork 3 1 0 0
K Buss 4 0 1 0
A Boll 4 0 0 0
B Smidt 3 0 0 0
J Smith 2 0 0 0
A Cowell 1 0 0 0
E Reisdorfer 3 0 1 0
Pipestone 7, LHS 6
The Cardinals faced the Pipestone Arrows in Game 2 Saturday in Marshall.
Luverne took the lead in the first with a solo homerun off the bat of Connell to start the game. Bork and Buss both hit singles in the first inning but were unable to add any more runs to the board.
Jacey Smith had the only hit in the second inning, but neither team was able to score. Behr singled in the third inning but was the only runner to reach base for the Cardinals.
The Arrows took the lead 3-1 in the third off a couple of Luverne errors. Boll started off the fourth with a double but was left stranded on base. Pipestone plated two more runs to take a 5-1 lead after four innings.
Luverne plated two runs in the fifth with singles from Connell and Bork. Luverne held Pipestone and closed the Arrows’ lead to 5-3.
The sixth inning was scoreless by both teams. Luverne rallied in the seventh to take the lead back. Connell hit a double, Behr reached on an error and Olson hit a double to put Luverne up 6-5. The Cardinals were unable to hold onto their lead in the seventh inning, and Pipestone won 7-6.
Gracie Nath took the loss throwing all seven innings. She allowed seven runs on 12 hits, walked three, and struck out three.
Box score AB R H RBI
B Connell 4 3 3 1
P Behr 4 2 2 0
C Olson 3 0 1 1
R Bork 2 0 2 2
K Buss 4 0 1 0
A Boll 4 0 2 1
B Smidt 4 0 0 0
J Smith 4 0 1 0
E Reisdorfer 3 0 0 0