Softball: Back on track

Kendall Novak 2 hits, 2 RBI (photo by Jim Lindquist)

After a disappointing doubleheader loss at Chanhassen the previous day, Farmington (11-3) bounced back with a come-from-behind 6-5 win over Section 1 rival Rochester Century Friday at Tiger Field.

The non-conference victory didn't come easily, however, at the Panthers roughed up Tiger starter Maddie Muelken for three runs in her two innings of circle duty.

The Tigers cut their deficit to 3-1 in the home half of the second on a pair of walks and a run-scoring single by Kendall Novak.

The home team took the lead for good with a four-run third inning sparked by run-scoring hits by Novak and Taylor Yousse and a two-run single by Toni Hunsinger.

A triple by Carly Esselman and a fielder's choice ground out by Amber Doyle chased home an insurance run in the fourth.

Farmington took a seemingly comfortable 6-3 cushion into the final inning. But Century nicked Tiger reliever Ashley Betzold for two runs and had the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position when Betzold recorded her seventh strikeout of the day to seal the deal.

Novak had two of he six Farmington hits and she and Hunsinger each knocked in a pair of runs. Betzold picked up her 10th pitching win of the season.

Ashley Betzold 10th win (photo by Jim Lindquist)

"We didn't get a lot of hits (6) but we managed to string them together," Tiger coach Paul Harrington said. "They say that walks haunt and we proved that was true today. We had five walks and three of them came around to score.

"This was a nice comeback win for us, especially after losing the two one-run games at Chanhassen. Hopefully this picks us up and gets us back on track."

Monday the Tigers entertain another section foe, Rochester Mayo, before closing the season with a pair of conference doubleheaders, Tuesday at Chaska and Thursday at home versus Shakopee.