MANKATO -- Jordan Smith tossed a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts for Willmar, but Mankato West took advantage of three Cardinal errors to edge Willmar 2-1 in the first round of the Section 2AAA playoffs on Friday.
Smith held the Scarlets (14-7) hitless until Brock Lloyd singled with one out in the fourth inning. Adam Trautman, who led off the inning by drawing a walk and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt, scored on the play after the Cardinal defense misplayed the ball.
Willmar (7-12) tied the game in the sixth when Alec Saunders knocked in Mike Dunham with a sacrifice fly. Dunham reached by singling up the middle and had also singled in the first.
Another leadoff walk and Willmar error allowed No. 6-seed Mankato West to score the winning run in the bottom half of the frame.
No. 10 Willmar, which also got a single from Travis Hanson, could meet the Scarlets again today at 3:30 p.m. in Eden Prairie.
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Mankato West and No. 3 Eden Prairie meet at 1 p.m. with Willmar playing the loser in an elimination game.
Mankato West 2, Willmar 1
Willmar 000 001 0 -- 1 3 3
Mankato West 000 101 x -- 2 1 0
HITTING - Willmar: Mike Dunham 2-for-3; Travis Hanson 1-for-3 ... Mankato West: Brock Lloyd 1-for-3
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Willmar: Jordan Smith (L) 6-1-2-0-2-13 ... Mankato West: Brock Lloyd (W) 7-3-1-1-3-6
