25 April 2012

Softball: Back in the win column

1st baseman Amber Doyle 3B, run scored (photo by Jim Lindquist)


Farmington shook off the previous day's extra-inning loss to Chanhassen and defeated New Prague 6-2 Tuesday afternoon at Tiger Field.

Tiger coach Paul Harrington said his team's sixth win in seven tries wasn't perfect but considering a hectic four-games-in-a-week schedule and the previous day's numbing loss it was a step in the right direction.

"We came out flat," Harrington said. "We didn't get many hits and our defense had a few more breakdowns. We need to get more focused and ready to play every game."

The Tigers scored their runs in a pair of three-run outbursts, the first coming in the third when Amber Doyle led off with a triple, Taylor Haakana walked and both scored on a New Prague throwing error. Erin Wurst drove in the third run with a single.

In the fifth, the winners used two walks, an error, a couple of wild pitches and Ashley Betzold's two-run double to score their final three runs.

Betzold racked up her sixth pitching win of the season with a complete-game three-hitter and struck out six.

"She has been a constant for us all season," Harrington said of his junior righthander. "She and Allie (catcher Rice) did a great job with their pitch selection."

Betzold also had two of the six Farmington hits and drove in a pair of runs.

Wednesday the girls are back at Tiger Field for a Missota Conference tilt with Red Wing. Friday they're off to Shakopee to cap off their four-game week.