Red Knights success runs out at state softball

Wozniak picked up three hits in two games

Benilde-St. Margaret’s entered the Class AAA state softball tournament last week in North Mankato on a hot streak. The team was coming off to straight victories on May 30 against Orono to claim the Section 6AAA softball title.

Unseeded entering state, BSM drew top-seed Cretin-Derham Hall in the quarterfinals, losing 8-0 on June 5.

Cretin pitcher Brooke Nesdahl limited the Red Knights to just two hits over seven innings, facing just five batters over the minimum 26. She struck out 11 batters and walked three more.

BSM catcher Maggie Wozniak came through with a pair of hits while the walks came from Mallory Held, Mae Breunig and Cecilia Hanson.

Wozniak led off the second innings with a single up the middle before being stranded at second base.

She launched a two-out double to left field in the sixth inning before the Raiders got out of the jam with a pop fly to end the inning.

The Raiders used a six-run second inning on four hits to spark the win.

Held pitched all seven innings for the Red Knights scattering 10 hits and two walks with eight runs, six earned, and struck out three batters.

Cretin-Derham Hall went on to lose to No. 3 Mankato East 4-1 in the championship game on Friday.

The Red Knights couldn’t recover in an 11-1 consolation bracket loss to third-seed Rocori in six innings on June 6.

Rocori pitcher Jessica Boos limited the Red Knights to one run on three hits and one walk.

Held was once again in the circle for BSM, going 5 2/3 innings. She scattered 14 hits on 11 runs, five earned runs, with one walk and four strikeouts.

Held, Eleanor Porisch and Wozniak came through with the hits while Breuning added the walk.

Held’s hit came with two outs in the sixth inning on a single into center field. Porisch followed up with a double, allowing Held to score from second base. Held stole second earlier in the at-bat.

Rocori scored twice in the first, third and fourth innings each before a five-run rally in the sixth inning helped end the game early, thanks to the 10-run rule.

Rocori went on to win the consolation bracket on Thursday by an 8-6 final score against Simley.

State champions:

Class A: Top seed New Ulm Cathedral beat unseeded Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 10-4.

Class AA: Top seed Randolph beat No. 2 Lake Crystal Welcome Memorial 3-0.

Class AAAA: No. 3 Rogers topped No. 4 New Prague 3-0