Softball: Goodhue wins Lake City tournament

Goodhue picked up its first two wins of the season Saturday at the Lake City Invitational to win the tournament.

The Wildcats (2-5, 0-5 HVL) started the season with five consecutive losses but opened the tournament with a 24-0, five-inning victory over Mabel-Canton to advance to play St. Croix Lutheran for the tournament title. Goodhue rallied from a 4-3 deficit in the top of the seventh inning to score three runs for a 7-5 victory.

The key for Wildcats head coach Chris Irvin was limiting big innings.

“I think it’s been something we’ve talked about all year and that’s not giving up a big inning.”

Against St. Croix Lutheran Goodhue did just that and only allowed the Crusaders to score in the third and fourth innings.

Meredith Watson delivered a two-run base hit in the seventh to put the Wildcats ahead in the seventh and pitcher Emilee Roschen worked out of a jam in the bottom half of the inning to secure the win.

St. Croix Lutheran put runners on second and third with no outs before Roschen got a pop out and two groundouts to end the game.

Roschen struck out two and walked two for the win. Roschen also pitched a five-inning no-hitter against Mabel-Canton.

Brooke Bitzan drove in two runs and Paige Gadient went 2-for-4 against the Crusaders.

Gadient drove in three runs with two base hits against the Cougars and Caitlyn Strusz went 2-for-2 with two RBI. Roschen also delivered two RBI and Ashley Landy went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Goodhue drew 16 walks while Roschen struck out six and walked three.

The Wildcats face Lake City Monday in Goodhue.

Tags: sports, prep, softball, goodhue