Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial escaped with a win over the Jackson County Central softball team on Thursday.
The fourth-ranked Knights spoiled the second-ranked Huskies home opener with a 1-0 victory in an early-season clash of unbeatens.
JCC head coach Morgan Christopher says it’s exactly the kind of game she expected.
The Knights put runners on base in six of the seven innings and stranded nine on the day. They finally earned the only run in the top of the final frame on the same play where JCC retired the side.
Bailey Finck had a pair of singles for the only Huskies hits.
Clara Brinks stole a pair of bases as a courtesy runner for Finck and was in scoring position in the home half of the seventh. Braelyn Boogerd stole one after walking aboard in the fifth. The JCC lineup struck out eight times on the day.
Hadley Wachal took the loss but battled all day against a solid Knights lineup. She scattered six hits, tossed six strikeouts, and allowed a pair of walks.
The 3-1 Huskies will look to bounce back during their visit to Mankato East on Friday.
FULL POST-GAME SHOW
HUSKIES SPLIT WITH ARROWS
The Jackson County Central baseball team split a doubleheader in Pipestone on Thursday.
The Huskies held off the Arrows 4-3 in the first game.
JCC jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a two-out rally in the top of the first inning. Talan Holm singled aboard and later stole second base. Carson Kolander walked aboard and later stole second. Isaac Heseback smacked a two-run single to score Holm and Kolander. Hesebeck stole second and then came home when Haiden Warmka hit an RBI double.
The Arrows got one back in the home half of the first and another in the fourth.
Warmka added insurance by drawing a walk, stealing a pair of bases, and scoring on a wild pitch in the sixth to make it 4-2 JCC.
The Arrows tried to rally in the seventh but could only cut the deficit in half.
Holm went the distance with 10 strikeouts and his second walk of the season as Pipestone earned all three runs on six hits.
The Arrows won the second game 12-2 in five innings by run rule.
Ben Gallagher scored both JCC runs and collected a single, walk, and hit by pitch. Jace Jorgenson plated Gallagher both times. Holm also had a single, walk, and hit by pitch. Warmka, Kasey Storm, and Zachary Dill each drew one walk.
Josh Thompson allowed five earned runs on five hits with a strikeout and a walk in three innings of work. The Arrows scored four earned runs on one hit and three walks against Gallagher. Levi Thompson allowed three runs with two of them earned on six hits plus a pair of strikeouts and a walk. Carson Doescher tossed a strikeout as well.
The 3-3 Huskies continue their long road swing in Fairmont on Tuesday.
Saturday’s scheduled doubleheader at Gustavus against Hayfield and Springfield has been cancelled.