Last Saturday, Becker hosted their 25th annual Becker Invitational with some strong competition from around the area.  They played three games.

 

 

In game one, the Bulldogs took on the eighth-ranked and section favorite Rocori Spartans and came away with a victory.  

 

Ellie Schwartz got things started with single in the first and scored on a two-run home run by Corrie Weise.  

 

They added to their lead in the second when Cammie Varney doubled and scored on a Schwartz double.  

 

The Spartans closed the score to 3-2 until Becker score three times in the top of the seventh to steal the win. 

 

Weise picked up the win, allowing two runs on seven hits.  She didn't walk a batter and struck out seven.

 

 

In the semifinals, Becker took on the #1 ranked team in AA, Maple Lake and fell by two.  

 

The Bulldogs got on the board first when Payton Bernstrom drew a walk and came around to score on a Krista Paulsen double in the second inning.  

 

The Irish took the lead with two runs in the fourth and added an insurance run in the sixth to seal the deal.

 

Weise took the loss, going four innings and allowing two runs on five hits.  She walked one and struck out four.  Catrina Holm threw the final two innings and gave up a run on three hits and two walks.

 

 

In the third place game, Becker fell to Superior, WI.  

 

Superior jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Becker’s bats came alive in the seventh. Kaylyn Wiehle and Krista Paulsen punched singles through the infield and Wiehle came in to score on a Bernstrom double. Pinch-hitter Brooke Hendrickson drilled a double off the fence in right center to plate two runs, but Superior squelched the threat and came away with the win.  

 

Holm took the loss, going six innings and allowing four runs.

 

Maple Lake defeated Anoka 3-2 to win the tournament.

 

 

Becker hosted St. Cloud Cathedral Monday for an important doubleheader. 

 

In game one, it was a pitchers duel and remained scoreless until the top of the sixth when Cathedral loaded the bases with nobody out and scored twice when a sharp ground ball escaped the Bulldog infield.  Becker failed to dent the scoreboard and St. Cloud took game one with a two-hit shutout.  

 

Weise was the hard luck losing pitcher as she went all seven innings, allowing just four hits while walking and striking out three. 

 

 

In game two, the Bulldogs got on top first when Schwartz drew a leadoff walk and Weise followed with a mammoth two-run homer.  

 

The Crusaders answered with a run of their own to make the score 2-1 and after a scoreless second, the Crusaders took the lead in the bottom of the third with two runs.  

 

Becker answered in the top of the fourth when Paulsen singled and scored on a Bernstrom double to tie the game.  

 

The top of the fifth saw the Bulldogs retake the lead when Emily Lamott led off with a single and scored on a Schwartz double.  Later in the inning, Schwartz would score on a sacrifice fly from Kaylyn Wiehle to make the score 5-3 in favor of the Bulldogs.  

 

The Crusaders showed no quit and answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth on two walks and two singles giving them a 6-5 lead which they would hold onto.  

 

Holm took the loss on the mound, pitching five innings and allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks.  She struck out six.  Schwartz was 2-3 with a walk and two runs scored.  

 

 

In game one of a doubleheader Thursday, Becker came out swinging and walked away with an easy, 11-0 win in five innings.   

 

Weise picked up the win, allowing just two hits and walking three while striking out two. 

 

Paulsen and Lamott each had three hits in the game, while Benda was 2-for-2 and Schwartz went 2-for-3 with a home run.

 

 

Game two, which was scheduled for five innings, was more of a back-and-forth affair.  

 

The Bulldogs got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the first and the Thunder answered with two runs in the top of the second  to knot the score.

  

Becker retook the lead an inning later only to find Zimmerman tying the game again.

 

Becker moved ahead 4-3 later, but Zimmerman scored three in the top of the fourth on a single, error, and three-run homer to regain the lead at 6-4.  

 

The Bulldogs then blew the game open with a 10-run fourth. Highlights of the inning included a three-run home run by Schwartz and two doubles by Weise.  

 

Weise picked up the win in relief of Holm.  Weise was also 4-for-4 with three doubles and three runs scored.  Schwartz continued her hot hitting by going 3-for-4, including a double and home run. Lamott was 2-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored.

 

 

Becker traveled to Esko Friday to take on the seventh-ranked Eskimos. Becker will play perennial powerhouse Hermantown Saturday morning (full report on the games to appear in next week’s Citizen-Tribune).  

 

Next week, Becker finishes out the regular season with a game at Milaca  Monday, a home game against Mora Tuesday and conclude the conference schedule with a home doubleheader against Albany  Thursday. 

 

They end their regular season traveling to Monticello Friday and then  to Zumbrota for two games against Norwood-Young America and the defending state champion Zumbrota-Mazeppa Cougars Saturday.