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Chisago Lakes 3, Benilde-St. Margaret’s 0

Ariel Novak had two run-scoring doubles and pitcher Whitney Slagerman struck out seven while allowing just three hits to lead the Wildcats to a 3-0 shutout win over the Benilde-St. Margaret’s Red Knights Tuesday, May 2 at Chisago Lakes.

The Wildcats got off to a fast start in the bottom of the first inning. Andrea Nelson struck out, but reached first as the ball skipped past the catcher. Novak’s first double of the game scored Nelson. Karina Swanberg followed with a single, one of her two hits for the game, to drive in Novak and make the score 2-0 after one inning.

In the top of the second, the Red Knights opened with a single. But Slagerman shut the door on the Red Knights by striking out the next three batters to keep the score at 2-0.

The Wildcats added to their lead in the third. Jenny Reed singled with one out. Novak ripped her second double of the game to score Reed with the Wildcats’ third run.

Slagerman and the Wildcat defense didn’t allow any Red Knight batters to reach first base in the fifth through seventh innings, making the final score Chisago Lakes 3, Benilde-St. Margaret’s 0.

“Whitney pitched a real solid game,” said Wildcat head coach Steve Fisher. “For the team, this was a big win over one of the conference leaders.” The Wildcats home record improved to 4-4 with the victory.

Chisago Lakes 6, Fridley 1

Whitney Slagerman had her most dominating pitching performance of the year. She struck out 16 batters as the Wildcats scored six runs on just two hits to beat the Fridley Tigers 6-1 at Fridley Thursday, May 4.

After two scoreless innings, Fridley’s pitching and defense let the team down as the Wildcats scored four runs in the top of the third without getting a hit. Bailey Eichten, Andrea Nelson and Jenny Reed walked to load the bases. Ariel Novak walked to force in the first run of the game. Two errors by the Tiger infield allowed three more Wildcats to score to make the score 4-0.

The Wildcats added to their lead in the fourth. Bailey Eichten and Brittany Lofgren singled to lead off the inning. Eichten scored on an infield out and Lofgren scored on a passed ball to increase the Wildcats lead to 6-0.

Fridley put together a leadoff walk and a couple of singles in the sixth inning to score its lone run. But that’s all they could manage off of the overpowering Slagerman, giving Chisago Lakes the 6-1 win.

“Whitney had another great game,” said Wildcat head coach Steve Fisher. “She moved the ball well. We had a hard time at the plate but got the runs we needed anyway.”

The Wildcats (7-5 overall, 4-4 conference) were scheduled to host St. Francis on Monday, May 8 and then travel to St. Louis Park on Tuesday, May 9. This weekend they’ll play in a tournament at Benilde-St. Margaret’s, with games starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 13. Next Monday, May15 they’ll play a 4 p.m. game at St. Louis Park before returning home to face Irondale Tuesday, May 16 at 4:15 p.m.

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