Pequot Lakes at Pierz

Preview

The Pierz Pioneers took round one in Granite Ridge Conference softball defeating Pequot Lakes 10-6 on a chilly day in Pierz.

After a scoreless first, Pequot Lakes exploded for five runs in the top of the second as the first seven batters reached base safely. Pierz loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning with nobody out but thanks to a great double play, the Patriots held them to just one.

In the third, Pierz returned the favor with five runs, taking a 6-5 lead, highlighted by an inside-the-park 2-run home run by Kayla Virnig. The Patriots pushed across a run in the top of the fourth without a hit to tie things up, but Pierz responded again with three in the bottom half to take a 9-6 lead. The Pioneers aded another in the bottom of the sixth, and with Erin Thesing crusing in the circle Pierz closed things out with the 10-6 win. Thesing didn’t allow a hit in innings 3-6 and retired 10 straight Patriots before a Georgia James double in the seventh.

Pierz is now 2-0, 1-0 in the GRC while it was opening day for the Patriots (0-1, 0-1).

WP: Erin Thesing 7IP, 6R, 8H, 5K, 3BB
LP: Georgia James 6 IP, 10R (9 earned), 11H, 4K, 0BB

Pierz hitting: 10-11-3 (LOB); Delilah Rocheleau 3-4, 2b, 2RBI, R; Kayla Virnig 2-2, HR, 2 RBI; Natalie Knutson 2-4 2RBI, R; Macy Sadlovski 2-4, RBI, 2R; Hayden Sam 1-2, 2b, RBI, 2R

Pequot Lakes hitting: 6-8-5; Georgia James 3-3, 2b, 2RBI; Taryn Tjaden 1-3, 2b, R; Halie Bengston 1-2, RBI, R; Kate Arellano 0-1, 2BB, 2R, RBI