With only seven combined hits and three total runs, defense was the name of the game during Waterville-Elysian-Morristown’s and Bethlehem Academy’s Gopher Conference matchup hosted by WEM Thursday.
Buccaneers freshman Alix Velzke had one of her best showings in the circle, and along with some timely offense, WEM was able to shut down the Cardinals and pick up a 3-0 victory on its home diamond.
This marks WEM’s third victory of the season, while BA faced its second loss in a row. Throughout the season, both squads have had some tough games to play in. But nonetheless, Velzke was up to the challenge of facing off with BA’s ace Morgan Wilson in a defensive battle.
“It feels really good,” said WEM head coach Crystal Lamont. “We’ve been staying the course, working hard on our fundamentals and it really paid off with our defense tonight. Our infield did a great job of making plays out there and giving that support to Alix (Velzke) on the mound.”
Neither team was able to put many runners on base, much less score a run, through the first three innings. BA’s Kaylee Katra and WEM’s Liza Baker both recorded a single in the third inning, but both defenses were quick to get out of the inning.
Anna Cohen looked to get the Cardinals going by laying down a bunt and reaching second off an error in the top of the fourth, but the Bucs responded by recording three straight outs to leave her stranded.
Instead, it was the home team that took advantage of some miscues to pull ahead in the third. Velzke provided herself some support by singling to left field and eventually got around the bases to score off a couple of passed balls.
A walk to Anna Voegele and singles for Robynn Schwichtenberg and Alayna Atherton loaded up the bases with no outs for the Bucs. Izabela Slechta managed to drive in a run on an RBI grounder to give WEM a 2-0 lead, but the Cardinals were able to get out of the inning with only giving up that one run.
While BA was having some luck making contact with the ball, the WEM defense backing Velzke prevented the Cardinals from having too much to work with on the base paths. BA was limited to two hits and one walk on the day.
“It was one of her best (games) as far as hitting her spots,” Lamont said. “Her changeup was there to keep them off balance a little. She did a great job on the mound.”
WEM picked up an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Atherton managed to reach second base off BA’s lone error of the game Slechta recorded her second RBI of the game by driving Atherton in on a two-out RBI single.
The Cardinals attempted a late rally with two outs in the top of the seventh. Caitlin Bothun recorded a single and Liv Glumack drew a walk on a full count to bring the tying run to the plate. But it was a grounder to Voegele that led the third baseman to throw to first for the final out.
Velzke recorded a team-high two hits for the Bucs. Atherton, Slechta and Baker all recorded one hit each. Slechta led with WEM’s only two RBIs. In the circle, Velzke recorded four strikeouts while only allowing BA’s two hits and one walk with no runs.
Bethlehem Academy saw hits from Bothun and Katra, while Glumack drew the only walk. Wilson recorded six strikeouts and allowed five hits, one walk and two earned runs.
The Bucs (3-7) are looking to build off their victory as they go on the road for back-to-back games at Blue Earth Area on Monday and at Waseca on Tuesday.
The Cardinals (8-4) are looking to break out of their two-game slump and return to their winning ways as they go on the road to face Wabasha-Kellogg on Monday and Blooming Prairie on Thursday, May 9.
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