Willmar nips St. Cloud Apollo in softball, 3-2

ST. CLOUD -- In a weird turn of events, the Willmar Cardinals nipped St. Cloud Apollo 3-2 in Central Lakes Conference softball action on Thursday.

Apollo (2-2, 2-2) had the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. The next batter worked the count to 2-1 against Hanna Pederson. The next pitch was also called a ball and the batter took off for first, thinking it was ball four. At the same time, the runner from third began to walk toward the plate with what she thought would be the tying run. But Pederson turned and threw the ball to third and the runner was tagged out diving back into the base to end the game.

"I've never seen anything like that before," remarked Willmar coach Brent Pederson.

Bevin Williams drove in two of the Willmar (4-1, 6-2) runs. Her fielder's choice groundout in the second plated Chelsey Wierschem, who had doubled and stole third.

And her single in the fourth also scored Wierschem, who had walked and stole second.

The third Cardinal run scored when Haylee Hastad singled and scored on Brittney Hastad's double.

Pederson went the distance for the win, allowing eight hits while walking five and striking out four.

Willmar 3, SC Apollo 2

Willmar 010 110 0 -- 3 5 1

SC Apollo 000 011 0 -- 2 8 1

HITTING - Willmar: Haylee Hastad 1-for-4; Brittney Hastad 1-for-3, 2b, rbi; Chelsey Wierschem 1-for-2, 2b, 2 runs; Amanda Croonquist 1-for-2; Bevin Williams 1-for-3, 2 rbi ... St. Cloud Apollo: Kelsey Mathiason 2-for-3; Shelby Pederson 2-for-3, rbi; Sam Braeggeman 1-for-3; Allison Gray 1-for-3; Mallory White 1-for-3; Mackenzie Birr 1-for-4

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Willmar: Hanna Pederson (W) 7-8-2-1-5-4 ... St. Cloud Apollo: Casey Parsons (L) 7-5-3-3-1-7