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May 3, 2000
Late surge lifts EaglesBy PAUL DUNLAP Journal Sports Editor NEW ULM -- The New Ulm softball team ran its South Central Conference record to 6-0 Tuesday, scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull away from United South Central 5-1 at Harman Park. Lauren Hofmeister picked up the mound win in relief of starter Cassie Schultz, yielding the one run on three hits while striking out four in two innings pitched. Schultz threw the first five shutout innings, giving up two hits while fanning seven and walking two. "We hung around long enough to finally get some runs," Eagles' coach Jim Pearson said. "It was like past weekend at Kato (East Invitational). We had runners in scoring position but didn't pull the trigger to get some runs. A hit here or there, and it wouldn't be 1-1 or 1-0 like it was today." New Ulm would score its first run in the bottom of the first. Shannon Gorres delivered a two-out single to left-center, and proceeded to swipe second base on the next pitch. Rebel catcher Chris Soma threw the ball past everyone, allowing Gorres to scamper home for the 1-0 lead. Schultz pitched well enough for that lead to stand up, but for the next four innings the Eagles would leave at least one runner stranded in scoring position. "We had our chances today," Pearson said. "One of these days we're going to bust out for a bunch of runs, but our kids played well I thought." Schultz left after five with New Ulm still up 1-0, and Hofmeister began her duty with a strike out. It would be her throwing error to first that allowed Hilary Wacholz to reach, and Wacholz would eventually come around to score on Kristin Hinkley's sacrifice fly to right to knot the game at a run apiece. "That (error) was kind of a routine play," Pearson said, "but those kinds of things happen when you're dealing with kids this age. It just happens." That's when the Eagles would take flight, sending 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the sixth. USC pitcher Emily Erickson, a left-hander, walked in a pair of runs in that frame, plus Meghan Reedy beat the throw home on a Christine Wendinger ground ball to second. Emily Hamann would also deliver for New Ulm with an RBI single to right that plated Brittany Gorres. The Rebels would threaten in the seventh as base hits from Megan Wetzell and Christine Stenzel plus a walk to Lindsay Hagen would load the bases with two outs. Hofmeister would get revenge for the only USC run by striking out Wacholz to end the game. Brittany Gorres and Hamann led the eight-hit New Ulm attack with two hits apiece. The Eagles (7-2, 6-0) will travel to face St. James in another SCC matchup Thursday. USC 000 001 0 -- 1 5 2 NEW ULM 100 004 x -- 5 8 1 WP--Hofmeister, LP--Erickson.
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