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Big Lake 5

Chisago Lakes 3

It was a nice start to the week for the Chisago Lakes softball team, defeating Pine City on Monday, April 25th, before following that up with a 13-1 win over Zimmerman last Tuesday. The two game winning streak pushed the Wildcats back above .500 at 5-4 on the season.

However, last Thursday, Big Lake broke the string of wins by sneaking past the Wildcats 5-3.

The Hornets stung Chisago with a quick start, scoring three runs in the bottom of the third. Big Lake got things started with a single followed by a strikeout. Two more Hornet hits and a Chisago error kept the inning going, allowing Big Lake a move in front by three.

The ‘Cats answered back with one run in the top of the fourth. Katie Reed led off the inning with a double followed by an Ariel Novak double. The blast scored Reed from second, trimming the deficit to 3-1.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, things remained quiet until the bottom of the sixth. That’s when Big Lake put the ‘Cats to rest with two more runs. Another Chisago error and a walk put two runners on for the Hornets before a single made the score 4-1. Not done yet, a sacrifice fly to left plated Big Lake’s fifth run of the game, helping them build a 5-1 lead with one inning left.

Although Chisago made it interesting, four runs was too much.

Batting in the top of the seventh with two outs, back-to-back walks loaded the bases for Reed who stroked her second double of the game, scoring two runs, making the score 5-3. But that was as close as they would get as the game ended on a ground out, stranding runners at second and third.

The loss dropped the Wildcats record to 5-5 on the season and 3-3 in the Rum.

Reed led the Wildcats at the plate with two hits and two RBI’s. Andrea Nelson also finished the game with two hits. On the mound, Whitney Slagerman took the loss, pitching six innings, allowing five hits and striking out two.

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