Redhots sweep St. Peter

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- For the New Ulm Redhots, the season to this point had been about has foreboding as the sky was early Tuesday evening. But the brief storm cleared, and the Redhots picked up a pair of wins from St. Peter, trouncing the Saints 8-0 in the first game in six innings and squeaking out a 7-6 win in five innings in the second at Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School.

Both games were called due to time limit.

"It's really nice, the girls are happy," New Ulm coach Joel Johnson said. "I'm happy. We played pretty good."

The pair of victories snapped a four-game losing streak to start the season for New Ulm (2-4).

Lauren Hofmeister (1-3) got the win for the Redhots in the first game, tossing a one-hitter. She struck out seven in six innings of work.

Heidi Klaseus (0-2) took the loss for St. Peter, allowing eight runs -- five earned -- on five hits in four innings.

Tashi Meyer (1-0) got the win in relief for New Ulm in the second game, taking over for starter Hannah Gronholz with one out in the second. Meyer allowed three runs -- two earned -- on a pair of hits.

Lexi Becker (0-1) took the loss for St. Peter in relief. She gave up three runs on five hits in the final two innings.

The Redhots made Becker a loser in dramatic fashion, putting together a pair of hits in the top of the fifth to score the game-winning run on Hofmeister's RBI single to right-center. Ashley Groehler scored the run after reaching on a triple to deep right field.

Hofmeister was thrown out at second trying for the extra base.

Groehler's hit almost scored the winning run, but Meyer, who had reached on a single, was gunned down on a quick relay throw from first baseman Kristi Hix to Saints' catcher Kara Honetschlager.

"I try to get them to do it all the time, to be aggressive," Johnson said. "If they're trying to stretch it, to make an advancement and they get thrown out, that's better than doing nothing at all. That's something we work on, being aggressive."

Hofmeister, Jenny Brandel and Amber Domeier each finished with two hits for New Ulm. Riley was 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored for St. Peter (1-6).

In the first game, Hofmeister started by striking out the side in the first and allowed only a single to Lora Strey in the second inning. She faced only two batters more than the minimum.

"She's been throwing really good for us," Johnson said. "She puts a lot of effort into it and does a good job for us."

The Redhots will travel to Waseca for a doubleheader at 6 p.m. Thursday.

1st Game

St. Peter 000 000 -- 0 1 3

NU Redhots 044 00x -- 8 5 0

Game called due to time limit.

Klaseus, Hix (5) and M.Honetschlager. Hofmeister and Groehler. W--Hofmeister, 1-3. L--Klaseus, 0-2. HRs--None.

2nd Game

NU Redhots 202 21 -- 7 8 4

St. Peter 121 20 -- 6 4 4

Game called due to time limit.

Gronholz, Meyer (2) and Bode. Biehn, Becker (4) and Riley, K.Honetschlager (4). W--Meyer, 1-0. L--Becker, 0-1. HRs--None.