The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Sports

Related Photos

  • After bobbling the third strike on Mankato Loyola batter Sam Larsen, United South Central catcher Deanna Gilsrud turned around and tagged out courtesy runner Esther Archer as she tried to score from third in the first inning. Pat Christman

    Loyola softbl4-27.jpg

April 26, 2012

Loyola softball team rebounds after finding itself in unfamiliar territory

Crusaders fall behind early, end up routing Rebels

By Jim Rueda Free Press Sports Editor

MANKATO — When United South Central’s Cassidy Latusek launched a line drive well over the left-center field fence in the top of the first inning, the Mankato Loyola softball team found itself in an unaccustomed place Thursday evening — trailing 2-0.

The Crusaders, however, didn’t stay behnd for long. Loyola (7-0) rallied for three runs in the bottom half of the inning and cruised to a 15-5, six-inning Gopher Conference win at the Loyola field.

“We didn’t let that bother us,” Loyola left-fielder Erin Murray said of the deficit. “We know we have the hitters to come back. It was just a question of letting our offense go to work.”

The Crusaders had only 10 hits in the game, but took advantage of seven errors and six walks and stole nine bases to continually fuel rallies. Aunika Bastian, who finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs and four runs scored, said her team’s aggressive baserunning may have contributed to some of the miscues.

“That’s our style; that’s the way we like to play,” Bastian said. “If we keep pushing around the base paths that puts pressure on the defense.”

The offensive highlights were numerous for the Crusaders. Murray finished 2 for 3 with a run scored, Maddie McCargar stroked a two-run double in the second inning, Bobbi Sellner had a two-run single in the fifth, Jordyn Strachan ripped a two-RBI double in the first, and Sam Larsen ended the game with a two-run single up the middle in the bottom of the fifth.

 Strachan started for Loyola and got the win. After giving up the two-run bomb to Latusek in the first, she pitched three shutout innings before running into trouble in the fifth.

Jackie Wenzel, Deanna Gilsrud, Bailey Klingbeil, Sadie Burkhow and Latusek all cracked singles against Strachan in the fifth before Crusaders’ coach Jessica Kirschner brought in Katie Homan, who retired the only two batters she faced.

Latusek finished 2 for 3 with three RBIs for the Rebels (2-8). Burkhow and Leah Irwin also had run-scoring hits.

“We started a little shaky, but we came back strong,” Murray said. “I think we’re playing pretty good softball right now.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints