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Cardinals silence Trojans, 8-0

FAIRMONT – Sheer perfection through five frames.

Fairmont freshman ace Jordan Ehlert flirted with both a perfect game and a no-hitter before firing a two-hit shutout in the Cardinals’ 8-0 softball victory over the Worthington Trojans on Friday.

Ehlert recorded 10 strikeouts, issued her only walk of the Big South Conference game in the sixth, and allowed two singles in the seventh to earn the complete-game victory.

“Jordan did a good job of throwing strikes again, while our defense fielded everything hit at them,” said Fairmont head coach Haley Loerts. “It was nice to see us get our bats going again today, too. We need to continue that trend going into next week.”

With Ehlert retiring the first 15 Worthington hitters in a row, leadoff batter Abby Fitzgerald continued her hot-hitting ways to trigger Fairmont’s 15-hit explosion.

Fitzgerald, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a triple, drilled an RBI two-base hit to ignite the Cardinals’ five-run breakthrough on the scoreboard in the home half of the third inning.

Ericka Kim, who reached on a leadoff bunt hit, scored on Fitzgerald’s second double of the game down the first-base line.

Fitzgerald wheeled to third base on Taylor Nuss’ single to left before Fitzgerald crossed the plate on Courtney Williams’ sacrifice fly to right for a 2-0 lead.

Tieryn Arens reached on an error before Mallory Gochanour hammered a two-run triple into the right-field corner to double the Cardinals’ lead to 4-0. Mallory Gochanour then scored on Ehlert’s RBI single to left to cap the five-run outburst.

Williams, who went 2-for-3, blasted a single to left to trigger Fairmont’s two-out rally in the fourth frame.

Williams circled the bases when Arens launched a towering RBI double into the right-field corner before Arens scored the second of her three runs on Mallory Gochanour’s RBI single to right for a 7-0 edge.

The Cardinals could not cash in Fitzgerald’s two-out triple in the fifth or Williams’ triple in the sixth, but Arens managed to add one more run in the sixth. Arens doubled, took third on a wild pitch and scampered home on Ehlert’s fielder’s choice.

Williams, Arens, Mallory Gochanour, Ehlert and Mariah Gochanour each produced two hits for the Cardinals.

Olivia Petersen and Allie Bruns generated seventh-inning hits for Worthington.

Erin Benz started inside the pitcher’s circle for the Trojans, allowing seven runs – six earned – on 12 hits in 3 2/3 innings to take the loss. Benz struck out one.

Sydney Ponto hurled the final 2 1/3 innings for Worthington, giving up one run on three hits, walked two and struck out one.

Fairmont (8-2) travels to St. Peter on Tuesday for another conference game, while Worthington hits the road to Blue Earth Area next Friday.

WOR 000 000 0 – 0 2 1

FMT 005 201 x – 8 15 0

Erin Benz (LP), Sydney Ponto (4) and Olivia Petersen. Jordan Ehlert (WP) and Tieryn Arens.

LOB-Fairmont 8; Worthington 2. 2B-Abby Fitzgerald (F) 2, Arens (F) 2. 3B-Fitzgerald (F), Courtney Williams (F), Mallory Gochanour (F). SF-Williams (F).

Martin County West 11, Nicollet 4 – Jessica Klima and Alyssa Williamson combined to produce six hits and seven RBIs to help the Mavericks plunder the Raiders, 11-4, during Valley Conference action Friday at Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome.

Klima and Williamson generated three hits each, with Klima driving in four runs and Williamson three.

Jordan Gregory delivered two hits and two RBIs for MCW, while Ellie Kuehl contributed two hits, including a double.

Sierra Williamson allowed four runs on only one hit, struck out nine and walked three in seven innings of work to earn the complete-game victory for the Mavericks.

Martin County West (5-1) travels to Janesville on Tuesday to face Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton.

NIC 004 000 0 – 4 1 2

MCW 011 225 x – 11 13 2

Heron Lake-Okabena 5, Madelia/Truman 0 – Starting pitcher Ida Rogers-Ferguson and reliever Tessla Crowell combined on a seven-hit shutout to propel the Wildcats to a 5-0 non-league win over the Jayhawks on Friday in Okabena.

Rogers-Ferguson struck out two, did not issue a walk and allowed four hits in three scoreless innings pitched. Crowell allowed three hits in four shutout frames, walking four and fanning four to net the win.

Jessica Van Westen singled home a run for HLO, while Megan Haberman doubled and scored twice.

Beth Kotewa went 3-for-3 to top the Jayhawks’ offense, while Savannah Hodge went 2-for-2 with a double. Andrea Sorenson and Jessica Baumgartner chipped in one hit apiece.

Kotewa allowed five runs – four earned – on only three hits, struck out six and walked one in six innings to take the loss.

Madelia/Truman (2-7) plays host to St. James on Monday in Madelia.

M/T 000 000 0 – 0 7 3

HLO 000 104 x – 5 3 0

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