WILLMAR -- It was the Jordan Smith Show at Bill Taunton Stadium on Monday as Willmar and Sauk Rapids split a Central Lakes Conference twinbill.
The Cardinals (7-3, 8-5) won the first game 7-3 as Smith tossed a six-hitter while striking out 15. At the plate the senior went 4-for-4.
Smarting from the lashing, the Storm (5-5, 7-7) came out counterpunching to level Willmar 12-2 in five innings in the nightcap.
The Cardinals managed only a single hit off Jason Hoppe, who walked one and fanned eight. Smith, leading off the fourth, swatted the first pitch from Hoppe on a line over the right-center field fence.
In Game One, Willmar jumped on Storm starter Tyler Christen at the start.
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The first five Cardinals reached base and each scored. Two walks and a hit batter fed RBI hits by Jordan Smith and John Sawatzky.
The Storm got four of their six hits in the fourth inning to produce two runs. Justin Rothstein hit a solo homer to center in the fifth off Smith.
Willmar added two runs in the sixth off Jarrod Mauren, whose relief stint lasted five innings. Matt Odom singled, Smith doubled and Alec Saunders' double chased both home.
Justin Hamann took the loss in Game Two. Winning pitcher Hoppe also supplied three hits and two RBI.
Willmar 7, Sauk Rapids 3
Sauk Rapids 000 210 0 -- 3 6 0
Willmar 500 002 x -- 7 8 1
HITTING - Sauk Rapids: Jason Hoppe 1-for-1, Ethan Prow 1-for-2, rbi; Derek Cagle 1-for-3, rbi; Andy Henkemeyer 1-for-4, Justin Rothstein 2-for-4, 2 runs, solo HR, 3b ... Willmar: Jordan Smith 4-for-4, 2 2b's, rbi, 2 runs; Alec Saunders 1-for-3, 2b, 2 rbi; Adam Fagerstrom 1-for-3, rbi; John Sawatzky 1-for-2, rbi; Matt Odom 1-for-2, 2 runs
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PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Sauk Rapids: Tyler Christen (L) 0-2-5-5-1-0, Jarrod Mauren 5-6-2-2-2-7, Justin Rothstein 1-0-0-0-0-0 ... Willmar: Jordan Smith (W) 7-6-3-3-3-15
Sauk Rapids 12, Willmar 2
Willmar 000 11 -- 2 1 2
Sauk Rapids 113 52 -- 12 11 2
HITTING - Willmar: Jordan Smith 1-for-2, solo HR, rbi ... Sauk Rapids: David Kroger 1-for-2, 2b, 3 runs; Andy Henkemeyer 1-for-2, 2 runs; Justin Rothsetin 1-for-4, rbi; Jason Hoppe 3-for-4, 2 runs, 2 rbi; Tyler Christen 1-for-2, 2b, 2 runs; John Statz 1-for-2, wb, rbi; Ethan Prow 2-for-2, rbi; Stein 1-for-3, 2b, rbi
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Willmar: Justin Hamann (L) 3-7-7-4-3-2, Scott Skaalerud Zc-2-3-3-2-0, Andrew Bangen Zc-2-2-1-0-0- ... Sauk Rapids: Jason Hoppe (W) 5-1-2-1-1-8
