Softball: Streaking Tigers win sixth straight

Maddie Muelken had 3 hits in the opening game (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The streaking Tigers scored in double figures for the third consecutive game and stretched their winning streak to six with a 12-1, 13-0 doubleheader rout of Holy Angels Thursday afternoon at Lincoln Park in Richfield.

The games were originally scheduled for Tiger Field but had to be moved because Tiger Field was unplayable due to Wednesday's wacky weather events.

The sweep left Farmington with an overall record of 6-1 and an unbeaten mark in Missota Conference play.

"These were two different kind of games," coach Paul Harrington said. "We were only up 4-0 going into the fifth inning of the first game and then we just started hitting the ball real well and we broke it open.

"I think that kind of took the wind out of their (Holy Angels) sails. Our nine hits and their five errors made for a short second game."

Ashley Betzold pitched 12 innings of solid ball to pick up her fourth and fifth wins of the young   season. The senior righthander struck out 19 batters and allowed just seven hits in the romp. The Star's only run of the twinbill was unearned.

Betzold fanned a dozen and gave up five hits in the 12-1 in the opener and got plenty of help from an offense that pounded 15 hits.

Betzold and Maddie Muelken each stroked three hits for the winners. Betzold had a double and a triple and Muelken rapped a pair of doubles and each drove in a run. Muelken scored a pair of runs.

Carly Esselman, Amber Doyle and Toni Hunsiger were also major players in the hit parade with two safeties apiece. Both of Esselman's hits were doubles and she knocked in three runs and scored two.  Hunsinger added a two-bagger and she and Doyle each drove a run. Taylor Yousse had a hit, two walks and two runs scored.

Ashley Betzold 19 strikeouts in 12 innings (photo by J. Lindquist)

The nightcap lasted just five innings as the visitors put seven runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. The contest was halted by the 10-run rule.

Molly Berdan was a perfect 2-2 at the plate for Farmington with a double, a run batted in and two runs scored. Doyle stroked a double, drove in a run and also scored twice. Esselman also scored twice for the winners and Yousse drove in two runs.

Betzold struck out seven in the abbreviated contest to run her season record to 5-1.

The sweep of the Stars leaves the Tigers tied with Shakopee atop the Missota Conference standings with identical 4-0 records..

Next up for the defending league champ is a Tuesday doubleheader at Northfield. Thursday Chanhassen (5-1 in the Missota) comes to town for another doubleheader and Friday the Tigers entertain section rival Rochester Century in a non-league contest.