Hermantown in Class AA and Barnum in Class A advanced to Minnesota high school softball championship games as each won twice Thursday on the first day of the tournament in North Mankato. Championship games are today as Hermantown (25-4) faces Park Center (21-6, while Barnum (25-2) meets either New Life Academy of Woodbury or Badger-Greenbush-Middle River.
Hermantown's Megan Mullen threw a complete-game no-hitter, striking out 16, as Hermantown advanced to the finals. Shortstop Julia Gilbert picked up the only run of the game.
Hermantown scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to overcome an early one-run deficit in the quarterfinals with a 2-1 win over Pipestone Area.
Bailey Bouman's one-out double in the third inning put the Arrows ahead, 1-0 and she kept the Hawks at bay through five innings, allowing just two hits.
However, the Hawks got an unearned run in the sixth from Julia Gilbert and Olivia Carlson's two-single in the seventh drove home pinch runner Haley Wargin with the deciding run.
Mullen threw a four-hitter for the victors, walking two and striking out 10 in the process.
Barnum scored three times in each of its first two at bats and cruised to a 7-0 win over New Ulm Cathedral in the quarterfinals. Also Badger-Greenbush-Middle River stopped Cherry-Cotton 2-1.
Barnum then advanced to the finals with a 4-0 semifinal win over Menahga.
Bouman, who had two hits in the game, allowed sixt hits and did not walk a batter in seven innings. She struck out four.
Barnum's Allainie Hanek-Siltanen reached base and scored three times to lead the Bombers while Katie Myrhe drove in four runs, three of which came with a bases-loaded triple in the first inning. Jenna Shanda added two hits and two RBI.
Katrina Newman threw a one-hitter for Barnum, walking four and striking out 14 in the process.
Leah Eckstein's one-out single in the fifth inning broke up the no-hit bid.
Tags: daily updates, high school softball, state tournament, barnum bombers, sports
More from around the web
RSS Feeds