NORTH MANKATO -- Willmar finished on the short end of a pitchers' duel Thursday, losing to Minnetonka 1-0 in the loser's bracket of the Section 2AAA softball tournament.
The Skippers, seeded No. 9 in the tournament, scored an unearned run on an infield error with runners at first and third in the second inning.
The bats were not connecting well for the No. 6-seeded Cardinals (10-10), as they collected five hits, all singles. They only got one runner to second base. Britta Pederson hit a two-out safety in the third inning and stole second. The next batter struck out to end the threat.
Willmar pitcher Hanna Pederson and the defense got out of a couple of threats in a number of innings, but stymied Minnetonka in the seventh with the bases loaded and two outs as Pederson got a line drive out to left field.
"We didn't hit as well as I thought we could," said Willmar coach Brent Pederson. "Both of their pitchers threw nice changeups."
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Pederson allowed eight hits, struck out six and walked three. Minnetonka's Regan Andress pitched the first three innings, gave up three hits and struck out five. Kim Kelly picked up the win, striking out five and giving up two hits.
Neither team recorded an extra-base hit.
Minnetonka 1, Willmar 0
Minnetonka 010 000 0 -- 1 8 0
Willmar 000 000 0 -- 0 5 2
HITTING - Minnetonka: Cassidy Smith 3-for-4; Kim Kelly 2-for-4 ... Willmar: Britta Pederson 1-for-3; Brittney Hastad 1-for-3; Chelsey Wierschem 1-for-3; Allie Sweep 1-for-3; Amanda Croonquist 1-for-2
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Minnetonka: Regan Andress 3-3-0-0-0-5, Kim Kelly (W) 4-2-0-0-0-5 ... Willmar: Hanna Pederson (L) 7-8-1-0-3-6
