Loyola ousts Hounds, 1-0

By PAUL DUNLAP

Journal Sports Editor

ST. PETER -- On an imperfect day, Mankato Loyola pitcher Lindsay Mamer was exactly the opposite.

The senior right-hander threw a perfect game Tuesday, striking out 13 to lead the Crusaders past New UIm Cathedral 1-0 in Section 2-1A, West Subsection semifinal softball action at St. Peter's Jefferson Fields.

Mamer needed just 76 pitches in the game, with 59 of them being strikes. No Greyhound batter got the ball out of the infield as Mamer began the game with eight straight strike outs.

"I hit my spots pretty well today," she said. "I missed a couple, but ... it was still a pretty good game for us. My team was there to back me up.

"We came into the game today thinking that we weren't going to let the weather bother us. We really wanted this (win), and we played hard today."

Loyola (16-2), the No. 2 seed, now moves on to face top-seeded Cleveland at 5 p.m. Thursday in St. Peter for the subsection title. Cathedral ends its season with a 17-5 record.

"I knew it was going to be tough," Greyhound coach Bob Mertz said. "I knew we'd have to shut (Loyola) out or hold them to one run. We did a real nice job defensively, but we just couldn't put the bat on the ball."

Mamer struck out the side looking in the top of the first, then got the side swinging in the second. She got two more Ks to start the third before Cathedral's No. 9 hitter Chandra Petersen grounded out to second to stop the string.

"We're not a good hitting team," Mertz said. "We tried to get something going with some slaps and things like that, but (Loyola) made the plays. They played good defense, they have a great pitcher, and we just didn't test them enough."

Loyola scored the lone run of the game in the bottom of the second without a hit. Cathedral's only error of the game allowed Katie Bloodgood to reach base to lead off the frame. Bloodgood then stole second before a pair of Dee Wilfahrt wild pitches brought her home for the 1-0 edge. Wilfahrt stiffened up at that point, stranding runners on second and third in the third inning, and two more runners in the sixth.

"Dee moved the ball around well, and the defense made most of the plays they were supposed to," Mertz said. "We had that one (error) that hurt us, but this was a nice way for Dee (a senior) to go out. She did a nice job."

Mamer, meanwhile, continued to mow through the Cathedral lineup. Tessa Hodapp and Kelly Kuehn got the bats on the ball in the fifth, but the Crusader defense played flawless. Mamer didn't need the help in the sixth as she once again struck out the side.

"(Mamer) moved the ball around well, she was right around the plate," Mertz said. "She was throwing strikes, but she was also nipping at the corners. I thought we let too many good pitches go by in the early innings ... you have to get your cuts, get your money's worth up there (at the plate)."

Cathedral leadoff hitter Kristin Beranek led off the seventh with the hardest-hit ball of the Hounds' day, but Mamer stuck out her glove and was able to snare the line drive up the middle. She then got Jessica Lewis to ground out before ending the game by fanning Kari Franta.

Mamer and Ashley Kelly led the six-hit attack for the Crusaders with two singles apiece. Bloodgood and Amanda Chicos added the others.

"It was a good way for this group of seniors to go out ... with a good game like this," Mertz said. "They would have liked to have gone a step further, but the better team won today."

CATHEDRAL 000 000 0--0 0 1

LOYOLA 010 000 x--1 6 0

WP-Mamer, LP-Wilfahrt. HRs-none.