BRAINERD -- Willmar handed Brainerd its first loss the season, but the Warriors came back to salvage a split in a Central Lakes Conference doubleheader Tuesday.
Callie Nelsen spun a three-hit shutout with eight strikeouts and no walks to ignite Willmar's 2-0 win in the opener before Brainerd collected nine hits off Nelsen to win the second game, 5-2.
It was the Cardinals' second Central Lakes Conference loss of the early season after having lost only two conference games over the previous three years.
Willmar (2-2, 2-2) hosts St. Cloud Apollo Thursday at 5 p.m. in its home opener.
Laura Nielsen gave the Cardinals their only runs in the first game when she tripled to center field to score Andrea Brown and Nelsen.
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Seven players combined to amass seven hits for Willmar with Nielsen's triple the only one going for extra bases.
Brainerd (3-1, 3-1) owned a 5-1 lead before Willmar got back on the scoreboard when Nielsen hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in Allie Sweep.
Nina Emery drove in the Cardinals' first run with a triple that plated Shayla Swartz.
Game One
Willmar 2, Brainerd 0
Willmar 000 002 0 - 2 7 0
Brainerd 000 000 0 - 0 3 1
HITTING - Willmar: Laura Nielsen 1-for-3, 3b, 2 rbi; Andrea Brown 1-for-3; Shayla Swartz 1-for-2; Nina Emery 1-for-2; Emily Klein 1-for-1; Randiann Sather 1-for-4; Callie Nelsen 1-for-4 .... Brainerd: Paige Olson 2-for-3; Stephanie Neugenbauer 1-for-3
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PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Willmar: Callie Nelsen (W) 7-3-0-0-0-8 .... Brainerd: Ashley Olson (L) 7-7-2-2-2-6
Game Two
Brainerd 5, Willmar 2
Brainerd (3-1, 3-1) 202 010 0 - 5 9 0
Willmar (2-2, 2-2) 010 001 0 - 2 5 1
HITTING - Brainerd: Calleigh Johnson 3-for-4, 2b; Stephanie Neugenbauer 2-for-3, 3b, 3 runs, rbi; Abby Rehberger 1-for-3; Bridget Badger 1-for-4; Kayla Helmberger 1-for-3; Tara Moen 1-for-3 .... Willmar: Andrea Brown 2-for-3, 2b; Allie Sweep 1-for-3; Shayla Swartz 1-for-3; Nina Emery 1-for-3, 3b, rbi
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Brainerd: Kelsey Kunde (W) 7-5-2-2-1-2 .... Willmar: Callie Nelsen (L) 7-9-5-3-1-7
NEXT -- Willmar: Thursday, home vs. St. Cloud Apollo
