Softball: Goodhue takes fifth at Bethlehem Academy tournament

Goodhue’s bats showed up in a big way at the Faribault Bethlehem Academy tournament Saturday.

The Wildcats (6-11, 2-10 HVL) racked up 44 hits in three games, going 2-1 and securing fifth place.

In game one, Goodhue gave up three runs in the sixth inning and fell 9-7 to Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.

Junior Paige Gadient went 2-for-4 with an inside-the-park home run and two runs scored to lead the Wildcats. Senior Emily Ryan was 2-for-3 with a double, ninth-grader Lexie Kennedy went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI and junior Sharece Hahn finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

W-E-M’s Emily Meskan was 2-for-2 with an RBI and three runs scored while Lindsay Ayers went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Goodhue faced Wabasha-Kellogg, a sub-section opponent, in game two and came away with an 8-7 walk-off victory.

The Wildcats tallied 19 hits in the win and sophomore Meredith Watson singled in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Watson went 3-for-5 in the win.

Sophomore Emilee Roschen had a stellar game at the plate, finishing 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored for Goodhue, including the game-winner. Gadient went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, Hahn was 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored and senior Brooke Bitzan was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Sophomore Laurie Pearson threw all seven innings to get the win.

Rowan Blaschko was 2-for-4 with three runs scored to lead Wabasha-Kellogg and Sophia Lamey was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Wabasha-Kellogg had 11 hits in the loss.

The Wildcats kept the momentum going in game three, winning 11-6 over Faribault Bethlehem Academy.

Goodhue scored eight runs in the first three innings and held on as Bethlehem Academy cut the lead to 8-6 in the fourth inning. The Wildcats scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to seal the victory.

“We were up 8-0 thinking things are good,” Goodhue head coach Chris Irvin said. “All of the sudden we walk a few and before we knew it, it was 8-3, 8-6. … It was very important that we scored those three runs in the top of the seventh just to take the pressure off.”

The Wildcats notched 14 hits and were also helped by Bethlehem Academy’s six errors.

Goodhue junior Ashlyn Stecklein was 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, Gadient finished 2-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored and Hahn was 3-for-5 with two triples, two RBI and two runs scored. Roschen got the win in relief, throwing 4 2/3 innings and giving up two earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out one.

Ramontica Langfeldt was 3-for-4 with a run scored to lead Bethlehem Academy. Caity Angell went 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored and an RBI in the loss.

The Wildcats’ final home game, and final conference game, is Monday against Byron.

Tags: sports, prep, softball, goodhue