Faribault picks up dominant win over Albert Lea

Rylee Sietsema had her second big game in a row, pitching all seven innings and giving up only five hits and 0 earned runs, and the Falcons (4-7 overall) got back in the win column in a big way in their second game in two days.

Sietsema led the team with three hits, as well, in the 7-2 win over Albert Lea. The two runs scored by Albert Lea were both unearned.

The Falcons bats were hot all afternoon, collecting 14 hits in all. Most of the players contributed at the plate and on the field in a complete game and crucial win for section playoff seedings.

There was no score in the first two innings, as both pitchers were firing on all cylinders. While Faribault’s Sietsema was in control and getting stronger, Albert Lea’s pitcher started to get her pitches up high in the strike zone for the Falcons to get some solid hits starting in the third inning and going forward.

The Falcons put up three runs in the bottom of the third on hits by Grace Brazil, Riley Drengenberg and a double by Amanda Cullen for the first two runs. Sietsema then singled to score Cullen for the 3-0 lead.

The Tigers came back with two unearned runs to make it 3-2 in the top of the fourth, keeping it tight. In the bottom of the fourth, the Falcons got those two runs back again, with Drengenberg reaching base off a single and Brazil on an error. Sietsema came to bat and doubled to score both, making it 5-2 and effectively putting the game away.

Sietsema went into lockdown mode for the rest of the game, only giving up one hit over the last three innings. Amira Williams singled in the bottom of the sixth and later scored after a single by Jamie Adamek and ground out by Brooke Racine. Adamek then scored to make it 7-2 off a line drive by Brazil that the Tigers second baseman couldn’t handle.

Williams broke out a mini slump these past few games and collected three hits. Adamek and Drengenberg had two hits a piece. Sietsema led the way in RBIs, as well, with three.

The Falcons will travel to Austin Thursday for another Big 9 contest, with the game starting at 5:30 p.m.