SARTELL -- All any team ever needs is to score one run more than its opponent.
That's what Willmar got, scoring one run in the top of the first, then holding on for a 1-0 win over Sartell in Central Lakes softball action Tuesday.
The rest was in the hands -- and right arm -- of Callie Nelsen. She allowed just two hits, recorded 12 strikeouts and issued two intentional walks.
Randiann Sather started the game with a walk, stole second, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on Andrea Brown's ground out to second.
Sartell's Heather Trobec held the Cardinals (4-2, 4-2) to six hits.
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"We really didn't put the bat on the ball," said Willmar coach Guy Nelsen. "We also had some base running mistakes, getting thrown out twice at second and three times at third base. That makes a lot of difference in a 1-0 game."
Sartell mounted a couple of threats in the later innings with a runner at second base from the fourth through sixth innings, but each time Nelsen got a strikeout or a putout.
Willmar didn't have an extra-base hit in the game and didn't have a player with two or more hits. Nina Emery reached base three times with a single and two walks.
Willmar 1, Sartell 0
Willmar (4-2, 4-2) 100 000 0 - 1 6 1
Sartell (3-2, 3-2) 000 000 0 - 0 2 0
HITTING - Willmar: Randiann Sather 1-for-3; Allie Sweep 1-for-3; Laura Nielsen 1-for-3; Sarah Hulscher 1-for-3; Shayla Swartz 1-for-2; Nina Emery 1-for-1, 2 bb's .... Sartell: Kristine Omann 1-for-3; Ashley Lindberg 1-for-3, 2b
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Willmar: Callie Nelsen (W) 7-2-0-0-2-12 .... Sartell: Heather Trobec (L) 7-6-1-1-4-5
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NEXT -- Willmar: Thursday at Little Falls
