ELC holds off No. 10-ranked A-R
Charlie Sorrells - Sentinel Sports Editor
POSTED: June 14, 2008
Article Photos
Mustang ace right-hander Amy Leach and Midgets right-handed hurler Amanda Christensen did not disappoint and more than lived up to the pre-game billing.
Christensen, however, delivered an RBI single to back her seven-hit shutout performance to steer the visitors from Estherville-Lincoln Central to a 2-0 non-league victory over Armstrong-Ringsted in Armstrong.
Ironically, Leach allowed one less hit than her pitching rival – six – and recorded more than twice the amount of strikeouts – 9-to-4, but still absorbed the tough loss in seven stellar innings of work.
In fact, Leach displayed her improved batting eye by producing two hits, including a leadoff double in the fifth and a single in the seventh, but Christensen and the Midgets’ flawless defense held the Mustangs’ potent offense in check.
“I thought we’d be more prepared for tonight’s game, especially after coming off a big comeback win the night before,” A-R head coach Hilary Menke said in reference to her lineup’s 3-2 extra-inning comeback over Pocahontas on Thursday night. “We put five leadoff hitters on base out of seven, and we couldn’t bring any of them around.”
Lisa Pelzer set the table for the Mustangs during the home half of the first inning after Leach had retired the Midgets in order to open the contest.
The fleet-footed Pelzer pounded a single back through the box and motored all the way to third base on Morgan Grabinoski’s ensuing sacrifice bunt.
Christensen, however, proved worthy of the challenge, notching a timely strikeout before getting a groundout to turn A-R away empty-handed.
ELC then bunched half of its six hits during the top of the second inning to account for the game’s only run production.
Cleanup hitter Kristi Juergens lined a leadoff single to right before courtesy runner Alex Oleson reached second on a passed ball. Christensen assisted her own cause by lining an RBI single to the right-center gap to plate Oleson for the early 1-0 edge.
Emily Jensen, Christensen’s courtesy runner, moved up a base via another passed ball before Jordan Jacobson delivered an RBI single to right for a 2-0 lead.
Leach settled into a smooth pitching rhythm after that juncture, scattering three more hits over the final five frames before Mustang left fielder Rosie Cheever delivered a defensive gem in the seventh.
ELC’s Maggie Asman lined a one-out double to the right-center gap and stayed put on Leach’s ninth and final strikeout before trying to score on Erin Beardsley’s single to left. Cheever charged the hit and unleashed a perfect peg to catcher Megan Sanders for the inning-ending out.
Christensen took care of business herself to work out of a second-and-third jam during the fourth. April Gunderson walked and Sanders reached on a two-out infield hit, but Christensen struck out the next batter to escape unscathed.
Christensen then negated Leach’s leadoff double in the fifth, Gunderson’s leadoff single in the sixth and back-to-back singles by Bri Gonzales and Leach in the seventh.
Armstrong-Ringsted (10-2, 5-1 Corn Belt) plays host to Ruthven-Ayrshire on Monday in Armstrong.
Estherville-Lincoln Central improved to 14-4 overall with the victory.
ELC 020 000 0 – 2 6 0
A-R 000 000 0 – 0 7 1
Amanda Christensen (WP) and Kristi Juergens. Amy Leach (LP) and Megan Sanders.
LOB–ELC 5, A-R 8. 2B–Leach (AR), Maggie Asman (ELC). SAC–Lisa Pelzer (AR) 2, Morgan Grabinoski (AR), Logan Evans (AR), Jordan Jacobson (ELC).
