MLC takes two from Minnesota-Morris

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- In the second game of Martin Luther's Wednesday doubleheader with Minnesota-Morris, Renee Schiller went 0-for-0. But the Knights' lead-off hitter did her job.

Despite not having an official plate appearance, Schiller turned out to be the difference in the game. She walked twice, and scored both times.

Those two runs were the difference between a win and a loss in MLC's 4-3 win over UMM in nonconference softball. And it earned the Knights a sweep with MLC's 4-3 win in the first game, and, to top it all off, the wins were the first of the season for the Knights.

"I wish I could have had some hits," Schiller said. "But scoring is all that counts. I constantly think about that, that if I get on base, I'd better be getting home. That's part of the job of being the lead-off hitter."

Drawing walks requires patience, something the junior left fielder admits she doesn't exercise a lot when she's at the plate. But while going to plate thinking aggressively, Schiller made the most of the situation by being patient.

"I like being aggressive up there," Schiller said. "But (UMM starter Lacey Huschle) was quite a bit slower than what we're used to, and she was having trouble getting the ball over. It was easier to be patient today."

Schiller also made a difference on defense in the second game.

With MLC (2-4) holding on to a 4-2 lead, UMM's Melissa Nelmark reached on an error. One out later, Debby Rinehart singled to left and Schiller gunned down Nelmark at third, starting a double play that also collected Rinehart at second base to get the Knights out of the inning.

MLC's defense was spotty, though. The Knights committed four errors behind Sarah Scharf (1-1), who went the distance.

But the Knights' defense also made up for its miscues with several outstanding plays in the field. UMM (1-9) put three runners in scoring position that it failed to get around.

In the third, UMM's Emily Layer reached on a two-base error, but MLC got three straight outs. Two were on well-hit balls, a grounder to Kelly Gawrisch at short and a line drive right at second baseman Erin Enter.

Gawrisch came up big in the field three more times, including throwing out the Cougars' Krista Wynn from deep in the hole to get the Knights out of the fourth inning.

Leopold acknowledged the inconsistency of the MLC defense, but added much of it is due to the Knights' lack of outside practice time.

"I think it is part of not being outside a lot, at this time," MLC coach Barb Leopold said. "There's only so much you can do inside, especially with the outfielders. (And) we're still trying to get some people playing different positions."

UMM got a pair of runs in the top of the first off Scharf, using a pair of hits and an error. But Scharf, who allowed five hits and fanned three without issuing a walk, tamed the Cougars until allowing a run in the seventh.

"(Scharf) was solid," Leopold said. "She's being more confident with the junk, and it's good not to depend on just her fastball. Hitters will drive those, for hits anyway, if that's all you're throwing."

MLC scored its four runs -- two unearned -- on just four hits off Huschle (0-1). Huschle lasted three innings before Sara Lemlocke shut out the Knights in the final three innings, facing only one batter more than the minimum.

Schiller led off the bottom of the first with a five-pitch walk and then went to second on Jill LaViolette's sacrifice. Schiller scored on a throwing error that allowed Gawrisch to extend her single to left to second base, and Gawrisch scored one batter later when Scharf singled to center to tie the game at 2.

The Knights added two more runs in the third inning. Schiller scored on a sacrifice fly by Gawrisch after reaching via another five-pitch walk, and Jenny Nommensen scored on Erin Enter's RBI single to up the MLC lead to 4-2.

In the first game, MLC trailed 3-0 before rallying for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Nommensen got the win for the Knights in the game, allowing only three Cougar hits.

"We're going to use these two wins," Schiller said. "We're going to carry the momentum into the tournament this weekend."

MLC will be in action Friday and Saturday at the Sammons Classic in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.

First Game

UMM 010 020 0--3 3 1

MLC 000 004 x--4 4 4

Nommensen and Kassulke. W--Nommensen. HRs--None.

Second Game

UMM 200 000 1--3 5 3

MLC 202 000 x--4 4 4

Huschle, Lemlocke (4) and Rewitzer; Scharf and Nommensen. W--Scharf 1-1. L--Huschle 0-1. HRs--None.