COLD SPRING -- Rocori rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tip Willmar 2-1 in the season and Central Lakes Conference softball opener for both teams Tuesday.
The Cardinals (0-1, 0-1) put up their lone run in the top of the seventh inning on Allie Sweep's two-out single that scored Randiann Sather.
Rocori (1-0, 1-0) responded with two runs after two outs. After a Willmar throwing error, Callie Nelsen recorded her 15th and 16th strikeouts of the game, but then gave up a triple to Marie Omann to tie the game and Kathy Leither's single to give Rocori the win.
The game started out as a pitcher's duel between Nelsen and the Spartans' Nikki Schramel. Both hurlers had shutouts through six innings.
Nelsen allowed just four hits and walked six.
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Offensively, the Cardinals left eight runners on base.
"We just have to hit in the clutch a little better," Willmar coach Guy Nelsen said.
Sather led the Cardinals with three hits and Nelson added two.
Leither had two of Rocori's four hits.
Rocori 2, Willmar 1
Willmar (0-1, 0-1) 000 000 1 - 1 9 1
Rocori (1-0, 1-0) 000 000 2 - 1 4 1
HITTING - Willmar: Randiann Sather 3-for-4; Allie Sweep 1-for-3, rbi; Andrea Brown 1-for-4; Callie Nelsen 2-for-3; Sarah Hulscher 1-for-3; Nina Emery 1-for-3 .... Rocori: Marie Omann 1-for-4, 3b; Kathy Leither 2-for-4, rbi; Danny Rothsteine 1-for-3
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PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Willmar: Callie Nelsen (L) 6Xc-4-2-0-6-16 .... Rocori: Nicci Schramel (W) 7-9-1-1-0-6
NEXT -- Willmar: Thursday at Alexandria
