WILLMAR - The visiting Sauk Rapids Storm overcame Willmar in the top of the seventh inning when Taryn Anderson homered down the left-field line with two aboard, the left fielder’s third hit of the game.
The Storm’s four-run last at bat easily overcame Willmar’s 4-3 lead after six and sent Sauk Rapids back up State Highway 23 with a 7-4 Central Lakes Conference victory Tuesday.
Willmar scored two in the bottom of the sixth inning off eighth-grade pitcher Sammy Patton, on a passed ball and a steal of home by Kaitlyn Kienholz.
But the Storm had the top of their lineup ready in the seventh and started with two straight singles off freshman pitcher Lexi Kopacek to set the table for Anderson.
The Storm outhit Willmar 11-4. Patton, who was elevated to varsity for this game due to Storm injuries and an out-of-state academic event, fanned nine Cardinals.
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“Our hitters didn’t show up and the offense just never kicked in,” said Cardinals’ head coach Shannon Cayler. “We had a good effort late in the game to come back but it seemed like we were always playing catch-up and never in control.”
Sauk Rapids 7, Willmar 4
Sauk Rapids 200 010 4 - 7 11 2
Willmar 101 002 0 - 4 4 5
HITTING – SRR: Nicole Stedje 2-for-4, 2b; Brooke Torvik 1-for-4, 2 runs; Tara Paulsen 2-for-4, 2 runs; Lindsey Montag 3-for-4, 2 runs, 2b; Taryn Anderson 3-for-4, 3-run HR … Willmar: Allison Roehl 1-for-4, run; Sarah Stadem 1-for-2, Leah Ruter 1-for-4, 2b, run; Kaitlyn Kienholz 1-for-3
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - SRR: Sammy Patton (W) 7-4-4-2-3-9 … Willmar: Lexi Kopacek (L) 6-11-7-6-0-3, Leah Ruter 1-0-0-0-0-1
