WILLMAR -- Nikki Anderson of Brainerd threw a one-hit shutout to beat Willmar 2-0 in a Central Lakes Conference softball game Thursday.
Anderson, a sophomore who has already pitched a perfect game and a no-hitter this season, got out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and later faced the minimum 12 batters in the last four innings.
The Cardinals (4-4, 5-6) got a hit in the first inning on Alex Linbo's single and had the bases loaded. The Cardinals then had a chance to score when Anderson threw a wild pitch. But Brainerd catcher Della Gramer got the ball quickly from a rebound off the backstop and dived to tag out a sliding Haylee Hastad at the plate.
Willmar never threatened after that.
Willmar's Heather Horning, a freshman, kept the Warriors (8-1, 13-1) under control until the sixth when a single by Carlie Sweet down the right-field line scored the first run and a bloop single over second base plated the second.
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Anderson finished with 13 strikeouts and two walks. Horning gave up five hits, walked four and struck out nine.
Willmar hosts Monticello in a non-conference doubleheader today beginning at 4 p.m.
Brainerd 2, Willmar 0
Brd (8-1, 13-1) 000 002 0 -- 2 5 0
Willmar (4-4, 5-6) 000 000 0 -- 0 1 0
HITTING - Brainerd: Jenni Smolke 1-for-1; Carlie Sweet 1-for-2, rbi; Alanna Hanson 1-for-3; Kylee Kunde 1-for-3, rbi; Chelsie Manton 1-for-3 ... Willmar: Alex Linbo 1-for-2
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Brainerd: Nikki Anderson (W) 7-1-0-0-2-13 ... Willmar: Heather Horning (L) 7-5-2-2-4-9
