ALEXANDRIA -- Willmar got enough offense and more than enough pitching and defense to earn its first win of the season, 4-0, over Alexandria in Central Lakes Conference softball action Thursday.
On the road for the second straight game, Willmar will be away from home again Tuesday to face Brainerd in a doubleheader.
The Cardinals rapped nine hits, but stranded eight runners for the second straight game.
Defensively, senior pitcher Callie Nelsen fanned 12 batters and threw a three-hit shutout. She didn't walk a batter
Alexandria's errors helped Willmar's cause as all three miscues led to Willmar runs.
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Randiann Sather hit a bases-loaded single and Andrea Brown followed with another safety to give Willmar a 2-0 lead in the fourth.
In the seventh, Laura Nielsen reached on an error and Sarah Hulscher drove in the run with a double, and a second error allowed a Willmar runner to score from third.
Seven players had at least one hit for Willmar. Sather, who stole two bases, and Shayla Swartz had two hits each.
"We've gotten some hits out of our younger players. So we're getting production out the length of our lineup," said Willmar coach Guy Nelsen.
Willmar 4, Alexandria 0
Willmar (1-1, 1-1) 000 200 2 - 4 9 2
Alexandria 000 000 0 - 0 3 3
HITTING - Willmar: Randiann Sather 2-for-4, 2 sb's, rbi; Allie Sweep 1-for-3; Andrea Brown 1-for-4, rbi; Laura Nielsen 1-for-4; Sarah Hulscher 1-for-3, sac bunt, 2b, rbi; Shayla Swartz 2-for-3; Chelsey Wierschem 1-for-4 .... Alexandria: Bruzek 1-for-3; West 1-for-3; Dale 1-for-3
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PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Willmar: Callie Nelsen (W) 7-3-0-0-0-12 .... Alexandria: Tiffany Zacher (L) 7-9-4-2-3-6
NEXT -- Willmar: Tuesday at Brainerd (2)
