NEW ULTM — The New Ulm Cathedral Greyhounds stole every base they could and shut out the Nicollet Raiders 16-0 in a nonconference softball game Monday at Herman Park.
Then, in the bottom of the fourth inning, Kia Helget's two-run homer powered things up even more, and the Greyhounds were able to end the game early in the fourth inning due to the 15-point lead rule.
“It was definitely a lob up the middle and I wanted to score to win in the fourth inning.” Helget said. “I didn’t expect to hit a home run, but it worked out.”
Helget's walk-off home run was one of her three hits, and she finished the day 3-for-3, with four RBIs, four runs scored, and a double to accompany the home run. Jenna Hotbeck also went 2-for-2 with two hits, two RBIs and three RBIs for the Greyhounds, and Margo Finstad also went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Abby Hillesheim pitched four innings, allowing five hits and no walks, with four strikeouts and a shutout victory.
All of Nicolette's hits were singles by Leah Bode, Kayson Forbrook, Jazmin Getlicher, Madison Kettner, and Lydia Martens.
Beaudet allowed six earned runs on nine hits, four walks, and three batters, taking the loss in three innings. She struck out one of her.
Morgan Black pitched the fourth in place of Nicolette, striking out one and allowing two hits and two earned runs.
The Greyhounds increased their lead to 3-0 in the first inning with an RBI double by Herget. Eva Schmidt, who was on first base with one out, scored on Hergett's double. Helget and Hotovets, who were walked after Helget's double, later scored on a wild pitch.
The Greyhounds had five more runners score in the second inning with five errors and two hits. Hotbeck's RBI highlighted the inning, while wild pitches and errors sent out other runners.
The Greyhounds were led by an RBI single by Helget, an RBI double by Hotbeck, an RBI single by Alexa Hornig, and an RBI double to right-center field by Madeline Harla, and the lead increased to 14 after three innings of five hits and six runs scored. The score increased to 0-0. Finstad hit a double to left field in the first inning and then scored on an error.
The Greyhounds ended the day's game in the top of the fourth inning with Helget's two-run homer to center field with two outs.
The Raiders had two hits each in the third and fourth innings, but were unable to advance a runner to third base. After Getlicher's single and Kettner's one-out single to right field in the fourth inning, an infield fly was called and flew just past home plate to end the top of the inning.
The Greyhounds also consistently stole extra bases with stolen bases, wild pitches, hits, and walks. Hotbeck reached second base in all three innings after his at-bat, and only hit second base once due to a walk and a wild pitch. She also hit a triple and Helgett stole two bases.
“We agreed that we would be aggressive on the bases this year.” Helget said. “And that was the kind of goal we would all steal more often.”
The Greyhounds (6-0) host Sleepy Eye St. Mary's in a Tomahawk Conference doubleheader Tuesday at Herman Park, with Game 1 scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. I was happy that we were able to end the match early.
The Raiders (4-6) will need to fire up their bats again at home after coming off a weekend with two wins over Buffalo Lake vs. Hector Stewart (11-5) and Sibley East (11-0). There will be. They will host Granada vs. Huntley East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther in a Valley Conference game Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.