Thunder Sweep Mesabi Range At Braun Park

April 25, 2012

Wes Vork-NSO

The Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College women’s softball team picked up a much needed sweep in MCAC Northern Division play on Wednesday night with 8-7 and 2-0 wins over Mesabi Range Community College at Braun Park in Cloquet.

“We’ve had the injury bug hit us and we’ve struggled over the second half of the season,” commented Thunder coach Kerry Rodd. “It was nice to overcome those injuries and to get in the win column again.”

Most notable of the injuries was the loss of star pitcher Katie Youngberg who was unable to pitch for a two week period. During that time the Thunder dropped eight straight games before the sweep on Wednesday.

In game the Thunder used Kassi Neary on the mound and she held the Mesabi bats fairly quiet through six innings, however the Thunder still trailed entering the seventh by a run.

“We were down to our final out and managed to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh and then again in the bottom of the ninth,” Rodd said. “Both times we had two outs and both times we were able to somehow manufacture a run and keep us in the game.”

The Thunder finally won the game when Casey Pierce led off with a walk and then was bunted to second by Rachel Sanda. Kari Palmi followed with a hit, but Pierce was unable to score leaving runners on second and third. Savannah Hanson popped up in the infield and finally Hunter Nemmers drilled a base hit to score Pierce and give the Thunder an opening game 10-inning win.

Game two was dominated by pitching for both teams. Denise Rodd fired a 2-hitter and did not allow a run in a 2-0 shutout victory for the Thunder.

“That was a big win for us,” mentioned coach Rodd. “Denise threw well and kept them off balance, and give credit to Abby Otis who pitched well for Mesabi.”

The Thunder are now 8-16 on the season and 7-11 in MCAC play. They will host the MCAC State Cross Over Tournament at Braun Park this weekend. Game times on Saturday are 2 and 4 and on Sunday 10am and noon.

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com