ROSEMOUNT - A close win opened the day for Ridgewater Saturday at the MCAC Crossover Tournament at the Irish Sports Dome. At the end of the day, however, the Warriors produced a smash hit.
Heather Horning hurled seven strong innings and went 3-for-3 at the plate in a 3-1 win over Hibbing before the Warriors pounded out 24 hits to hammer North Dakota State College of Science 25-7.
“We hit the ball well,” said Ridgewater coach Todd Thorstad of the second win. “We were actually trailing, but we came back. We settled down and locked in what to do.”
Eight Warriors had multiple hits in the nightcap, ignited by Brielle Hauge’s 5-for-5 performance, a three-run homer from Brooke Wuertz and another three hits from Horning.
Ridgewater is scheduled to play a doubleheader in St. Cloud on Tuesday starting at 3:30 p.m. The weather forecast will more than likely prohibit the teams from playing.
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Game One
Ridgewater 3, Hibbing 1
Horning doubled in Erica Melbie in the fourth and sixth innings, and added a single in the second to spark the Warriors. In the pitcher’s circle, Horning held Hibbing to two hits while striking out 10 and issuing four walks.
Natasha Dallmann singled in Horning with two outs in the sixth to cap the Ridgewater scoring.
Hibbing 000 000 1 - 1 2 1
Ridgewater 000 102 x - 3 5 1
HITTING – Hibbing: Wickingson 1-for-3, Martin 1-for-3 … Ridgewater: Erica Melbie 1-for-2, 2b, 2 runs; Heather Horning 3-for-3, 2 2b’s, 2 rbi; Natasha Dallmann 1-for-1, rbi
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Hibbing: Wickingson (L) 4-3-1-1-1-3, Anderson 2-2-2-0-2-0 … Ridgewater: Horning (W) 7-2-1-0-4-10
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Game Two
Ridgewater 25, NDSCS 7
Already having produced six runs on six hits in the first two innings, Ridgewater erupted for 10 runs in the third and another nine in the fourth. The Warriors sent up a combined 27 batters, who manufactured 18 hits, in the third and fourth.
Dallmann benefited from the offensive explosion to pick up the win. The freshman settled down after spotting NDSCS a 6-3 lead after 1.5 innings, finishing surrendering six hits, four earned runs and six walks while fanning four in five innings of work.
Hauge supplied four singles and a double and Wuertz was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle en route to scoring five times. Dallmann and Dani Emkes also had three hits, while Courtney Olson and Haley Huls had two hits each to help drive in a combined five runs.
NDSCS 150 01 - 7 6 2
Ridgewater 33(10) 9x - 25 24 1
HITTING – North Dakota State College of Science: Meyer 3-for-3, solo HR, 4 rbi … Ridgewater: Brooke Wuertz 3-for-5, 2b, 3-run HR, 5 runs, 4 rbi; McKenzie Long 2-for-5, 3b, 2 runs, 4 rbi; Brielle Hauge 5-for-5, 2b, 3 runs, 3 rbi; Courtney Olson 2-for-5, 2b, 2 runs, 3 rbi; Erica Melbie 1-for-2, 2b, 3 runs, rbi; Heather Horning 3-for-4, 2b, 2 runs, 3 rbi; Haley Huls 2-for-3, 2b, 2 runs, 2 rbi; Natasha Dallmann 3-for-5, 2b, 2 runs, 2 rbi; Dani Emkes 3-for-3, 2b, 4 runs, 3 rbi
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PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - North Dakota State College of Science: Pender (L) 2.1-14-15-13-5-2, Stein 1.2-10-10-9-3-1 … Ridgewater: Dallmann (W) 5-6-7-4-6-4
