ROSEMOUNT - The Ridgewater softball team shook off a game one loss and defeated Minnesota West and Rainy River on Thursday at the Irish Dome.
The Warriors surrendered five runs in the sixth inning and lost to Itasca 13-11, but behind pitcher Heather Horning and some heavy-slugging bats, they handled Minnesota West 12-4 and edged Rainy River 4-1.
The Warriors improved to 7-3 overall and will play four more games against Dakota County, North Dakota State College of Science, Hibbing and Vermilion on March 28-29 at the Irish Dome.
Ridgewater’s Brooke Wuertz finished the day with 7 hits in 13 at bats and she drove in 4 runs, and Erica Melbie had 7 hits in 13 trips and drove in 5 runs. She hit a two-run homer in Ridgewater’s three-run first inning against Rainy River.
Brielle Hauge had 6 hits and 4 runs batted in and Courtney Olson had 5 hits, including a home run and 2 doubles, and she drove in 3 runs.
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Horning had 4 hits, including a solo homer against Rainy River, and she drove in a pair. She also picked up two wins, working 14 innings and allowing 5 earned runs and striking out 11.
Game One
Itasca 13,
Ridgewater 11
Itasca 250 105 0 - 13 14 1
Ridgewater 060 410 0 - 11 14 2
HITTING – Itasca: Angelica Kramer 3-4, Anya Olson 2-4 2b-2 rbi-3 … Ridgewater: Brooke Wuertz 3-4, Kenzie Long 2-5 2b rbi-2, Brielle Hauge 2-5 2b-3 rbi-3, Courtney Olson 2-5 hr rbi, Erica Melbie 4-5 rbi-2, Haley Huls 2-5 rbi, Tasha Dallmann 2-5
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Itasca: Olson (W) … Ridgewater: Dallmann (L, 2-2) 7 14 13 7 5 6
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Game Two
Ridgewater 12,
Minnesota West 4
Ridgewater 003 205 2 - 12 19 0
Minnesota West 001 002 1 - 4 7 2
HITTING – Ridgewater: Wuertz 3-5 2b rbi-4, Long 2-5 2b, Hauge 3-4 rbi, Olson 3-5 2b-2 rbi-2, Melbie 2-5 rbi, Dallmann 3-4 2b-2, Heather Horning 2-4 rbi, Dani Emkes 1-4 … Minnesota West: Christine Kazemba 2-4
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Ridgewater: Horning (W, 4-1) 7-7-4-4-3-5 … Minnesota West: Kazemba (L)
Game Three
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Ridgewater 4,
Rainy River 1
Ridgewater 300 001 0 - 4 10 2
Rainy River 010 000 0 - 1 6 1
HITTING – Ridgewater: Wuertz 1-4, Long 3-4, Hauge 1-4, Melbie 1-3 hr rbi-2, Huls 1-4, Horning 2-3 hr rbi, Emkes 1-3 … Rainy River: Mariana Johnson 3-3
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Ridgewater: Horning (W, 5-1) 7-6-1-1-0-6
