WILLMAR -- Hanna Pederson threw a one-hit shutout and the Willmar Cardinals sandblasted Little Falls 8-0 on Tuesday in a Central Lakes Conference softball.
The high-school field often turned into a mini-dust bowl as a south wind raged out of leftfield.
"It was blowing directly into the Little Falls' bench," said Willmar coach Brent Pederson. "I felt sorry for them and anyone wearing contacts."
Willmar scored two in the second on a Chelsey Wierschem single, which followed walks to Haylee Hastad and Sara Kallhoff.
The Cardinals scored six in the fifth on four hits and two Flyer errors. Kallhoff, Brittany Hastad, Wierschem and Katie Switzer delivered RBI hits. Kallhoff and Wierschem's hits were doubles.
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Hanna Pederson walked two and fanned 11.
Courtney Messinger's triple to right in the fourth was the lone hit for Little Falls (2-10, 6-11).
Flyers' pitcher Marissa Gessell allowed eight hits, while walking five and striking out 10.
Willmar (9-4, 10-8) hosts Brainerd on Thursday to end the regular-season schedule.
Willmar 8, Little Falls 0
Little Falls 000 000 0 -- 0 1 2
Willmar 002 060 x -- 8 8 2
HITTING - Little Falls: Courtney Messinger 1-for-3, 3b ... Willmar: Sara Kalloff 1-for-3, 2b, 2 runs, rbi; Brittany Hastad 2-for-3, rbi; Chelsey Wierschem 2-for-4, 2b, 3 rbi; Heather Horning 1-for-4, 1 rbi; Amanda Croonquist 1-for-2, sb; Katie Switzer 1-for-3, rbi
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PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Little Falls: Marissa Gessell (L) 6-8-8-4-5-10 ... Willmar: Hanna Pederson (W) 7-1-0-0-2-11
