The Becker Lady bulldog softball team improved to 3-1 with wins over the Thunder, Crusaders and Flyers. Their only loss was a closely-contested battle with Maple Lake Thursday.
Maple Lake 7, Becker 5
Junior Linsey Rachel blasted a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to lead Maple Lake to the nonconference win in Becker.
Becker got on the scoreboard first when Brianna Corey reached first base after being hit by a pitch and Corrie Weise followed with a two-run blast to right center field.
The Irish answered with an unearned run in the fourth to cut the lead to 2-1.
In the fifth, the Irish added two more runs to take the lead and a solo home run to lead off the sixth, pushed the Maple Lake lead to 4-2.
However, the Bulldogs weren't done as Sydney Lamott laced a single to center field in the bottom of the inning and Brianna Corey followed with a walk to put runners on first and second for Weise, who crushed the first pitch she saw into the trees in centerfield to give Becker a 5-4 lead.
The top of the seventh started off with two quick outs, but the Irish showed their resolve by getting a single, which was followed by a two-run homer to put them ahead by one. They added an insurance run, then closed the deal in the bottom of the inning to steal the win.
Weise went 5+ innings, allowing four runs while striking out nine and walking two. Corey pitched the final two innings in relief and allowed three runs on four hits.
Becker 5, Zimmerman 0
The visitors got on the board first, Tuesday when Ellie Schwartz led off with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Sydney Lamott and scored on a perfectly executed bunt by Corey.
Becker added a second run in the third when Schwartz reached on an error, moved to third on a Corey single and scored on a Weise single.
The big blast of the game came in the bottom of the fourth when Haley Benda launched a two-run home run to center field to make the score 4-0. Becker added a final run in the fifth when Corey led off with a double and scored on a Kaylyn Wiehle single.
Corey went the distance, striking out seven during her shutout performance. Corey also went 3-4 at the plate.
Becker 5, Cathedral 4
Last Friday the Crusaders got on the board first with a two-run home run in the top of the first of Becker’s home opener.
Schwartz led off the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The score stayed there until the top of the fourth when the Crusaders added another two-run home run to push their lead to 4-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, Becker was able to answer when Kayla Middlestaedt drew a lead-off walk and Megan Hoppe came on to run for her. Hoppe was able to use her speed to beat out back-to-back ground balls to third base, which loaded the bases for Weise. Weise delivered with a triple deep down the right field line to tie the score at four.
Wiehle then drove in Weise with an RBI ground out to give the Bulldogs the 5-4 lead.
Corey came in to relieve Weise and shut down the Crusaders for the final two innings to earn the save.
Weise went the first five innings and struck out four while walking zero.
Becker 16, Little Falls 2
Senior Corey and sophomore Wiehle led the Bulldogs, driving in three runs apiece last Thursday on the road.
In the top of the third, the Bulldogs put three runs on the board with a double off the bat of Weise.
After both teams went scoreless in the fourth, Becker was able to plate four more runs in the fifth with Schwartz getting an RBI single.
Two more runs in the top of the sixth moved the score to 9-2.
The final blow came in the top of the seventh as the Bulldogs scored seven times to put the game out of reach.
Corey earned the win on the mound, allowing two hits and two runs in four innings. Weise came in to pitch the final three innings and added five strikeouts.
Up Next
Becker will host Milaca Tuesday, travel to Elk River Friday and finish the week in Zumbrota Saturday in a tournament where they will take on the defending AA state champion Cougars.
