(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Farmington won its third and fourth games in row Friday at Northfield and made a statement about the Section 1 seeding in the process.
The Tigers hammered section rivals Owatonna 15-6 and Rochester Century 8-1 in the Missota/Big Nine Conference Challenge to move above the .500 mark (9-8) and make a case for a higher seed in the post-season tournament.
"This should help our seeding," Tiger coach Rob Laden said. "None of the Big Nine teams have had to play Prior Lake and Lakeville North and Shakopee and Chaska twice...It's always better to be playing your best ball going into the end of the season."
In the opener against Owatonna, the Tigers struck for two first inning runs on doubles by Alyssa Hagen and Ashley Betzold and a run-scoring single by Dani Muelken and then extended the lead in the second on a towering three-run homer by Aleah Williamson.
Doubles would be hit of the day for the winners with Williamson and Alyssa Kalmes each driving in a pair of additional runs with two-baggers. Ally Rice doubled in a run and Betzold smacked a bases loaded double in the third inning, scoring three runs.
Betzold also pitched six innings to earn the victory, allowing one earned run while striking out five batters and walking one. Toni Hunsinger pitched an inning for the Tigers and gave up the other four runs.
Hunsinger's first-inning double scored two runs in the win over Century with the big inning coming in the fourth when hits by Betzold, Muelken, Hunsinger, Taylor Yousse and Paige Lindrun produced four runs.
Betzold went the distance in the circle to regsister her ninth win of the season. She gave up eight hits, struck out four and issued one walk.
The Tigers close out their regular season next week with a pair of Missota Conference tilts, Tuesday at Chanahssen and Thursday at home versus Red Wing and then await the seeding for the section tournament that kicks off the following week.
