WILLMAR -- Baseball Hall of Famer Ernie Banks famously said "Let's Play two," but then he wasn't in Minnesota on a turbulent day in May.
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg and Willmar did manage to play one game of a scheduled doubleheader on Monday with the Cardinals winning on their home field, 7-2.
But with a chilly wind blowing hard out of the southeast and a light rain, the call after Game 1 was "Let's all go home."
The Cardinals led 4-0 after three innings of the non-conference game.
That was more than enough for Willmar pitcher Heather Horning, who finished with nine strikeouts, seven hits allowed and one walk.
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Sam Dunn, like Horning just a freshman, gave up eights hit and also walked just one in the tough conditions while fanning four.
Both teams hit the ball hard. Horning homered over the left-center field fence in the third inning and doubled in the fifth. Sara Kallhoff and Chelsey Hamman also doubled.
Five of the Fighting Saints' hits were stand-up doubles. Brooke Carlson doubled and later scored in the fourth inning and Erin Haglund doubled leading off the seventh and scored on Ali Clark's second double of the game. Ellen Johnson also doubled for KMS.
"I'm just glad we could get in one game," said Willmar coach Brent Pedersen. The cancelled second game won't be made up.
It was the first softball meeting of the neighboring school districts.
Willmar 7, KMS 2
KMS 000 100 1 -- 2 7 4
Willmar 121 012 x -- 7 8 0
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HITTING - Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg: Ellen Johnson 1-for-3, 2b; Brooke Carlson 1-for-3, 2b; Briana Baker 1-for-3, rbi; Erin Haglund 2-for-3, 2b; Ali Clark 2-for-3, 2 2b's, rbi ... Willmar: Haylee Hastad 1-for-4, rbi; Rachel Lawton 1-for-4; Sara Kallhoff 2-for-3, 2b, rbi; Heather Horning 2-for-3, 2b, solo HR, 2 rbi; Chelsey Hamman 1-for-2, 2b; Laura Swartz 1-for-3, rbi
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg: Sam Dunn (L) 6-8-7-4-1-4 ... Willmar: Heather Horning (W) 7-7-2-2-1-9
