EDEN PRAIRIE -- Each team had four hits, but Eden Prairie made its count to beat the Willmar Cardinals 3-0 on Tuesday on the Eagles' home field.
Willmar exits the 2AAA playoff field with a 1-2 post- season record and an 8-13 overall mark.
For the second time in five days, the Cardinal bats were silent with junior right-hander Jordan Smith on the hill.
Winning pitcher junior Tim Bado blanked the Cardinals on three hits over six innings while fanning seven, including the side in the sixth after Smith had walked leading off.
Willmar lost 2-1 at Mankato West on Friday, unable to take advantage of a one-hitter by Smith.
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This time Smith gave up four hits -- including a solo homer to Eagles' leadoff Scott Lindner -- walked one and fanned 10. His tournament totals were five hits, one earned run, three walks and 23 strikeouts over 12 innings.
"We've been executing pretty well lately and the guys know what to expect with Jordan," said Willmar coach Brad Dean. "We got a couple of guys on early and we could have been off and running but we just didn't get the hits we needed.''
Josh Oestreich walked and Smith doubled with one out in the first. In the third, Travis Hanson was on second with one out but again Bado buckled down.
The Eagles score two unearned runs in the third bunching a walk, two singles and an infield error.
Eden Prairie the 2007 state runner-up to Cretin-Derham Hall is backed up by an American Legion program that has won the last three state titles.
Eden Prairie 3, Willmar 0
Willmar 000 000 0 -- 0 4 1
Eden Prairie 002 010 x -- 3 4 0
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HITTING - Willmar: Logan Birkland 2-for-3 , Travis Hanson 1-for-2, Jordan Smith 1-for-2, 2b ... Eden Prairie: Scott Lindner 1-for-3 solo HR, 2 rbi; Madison Boer 1-for-2, Sam Gotham 1-for-2, Lucas Skjefte 1-for-3, rbi
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Willmar: Jordan Smith (L) 7-4-3-3-1-10 ... Eden Prairie: Tim Bado (W) 6-4-0-0-4-7, Tim Miller 1-1-0-0-0-0
