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St. Francis 3, Chisago Lakes 2

The Wildcats led 2-1 going into the top of the seventh, but the St. Francis Fighting Saints scored two runs on an error in the inning to slip by the Wildcats 3-2 at Chisago Lakes Monday, May 8.

St. Francis took a 1-0 lead in the third. Two singles and a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third with one out. One run scored on a wild pitch. The next batter flew out to center field, and the throw home beat the runner for a double play to end the inning. The Wildcats tied it up in the bottom of the fourth. Jenny Reed singled. With Reed on second, Ariel Novak singled, but Reed was thrown out at home. Karina Swanberg singled and Whitney Slagerman walked to load the bases. Nicole Oehme walked to score Novak. But that’s all the Wildcats could manage, leaving the score at 1-1 after four.

The Wildcats went ahead in the sixth on a one-out double by Slagerman and a run-scoring single by Katie Johnson. But the lead was short-lived. St. Francis led off with a single in the top of the seventh. The runner advanced to second on a passed ball. An error on a line drive hit to left field allowed that runner and the batter to score, putting St. Francis up 3-2 going into the bottom of the seventh.

Jenny Reed walked to lead off the inning. She went to second on a passed ball and advance to third on a groundout, putting the tying run just 60 feet away with one out. But the next batter hit a line drive to the shortstop, who caught the ball and made a quick throw to third to double off Reed and end the game. The final score was St. Francis 3, Chisago Lakes 2.

Jenny Reed and Whitney Slagerman had two hits apiece for the Wildcats.

Spr. Lk. Pk. 2, Chisago Lakes 1

The Wildcats one run came when they loaded the bases with one out in the third inning. In third, the Wildcats filled the bases on a one-out single by Lisa Schommer, an error and a walk. Schommer scored on a wild pitch. Another walk loaded the bases again. The next batter hit a ground ball to the third baseman, who threw home for the force out. The final batter of the inning popped out to the pitcher to keep the Wildcat lead at 1-0.

Spring Lake Park tied the game in the bottom of the third. A leadoff single, groundout and wild pitch got a runner to third with one out. The next batter hit a grounder back to pitcher Whitney Slagerman, who made a great play on the ball and threw the runner out at first. The relay throw home was dropped, allowing the tying run to score.

The Panthers scored an unearned run in the fifth to take the lead. On a one-out double, the runner kept going toward third. The cutoff throw went out of play, allowing the runner to score. The Wildcats couldn’t put anything together in the sixth or seventh innings, leaving the final score at Spring Lake Park 2, Chisago Lakes 1.

Schumer’s hit in the third and a single by Karina Swanberg were the Wildcats’ only hits for the game.

“We had them in the third,” said Wildcat head coach Steve Fisher. “Their pitcher was having a hard time finding the plate. We just couldn’t get the hit we needed.”

Benilde-St. Margaret’s Tourn.

The Wildcats finished 1-2 in the tournament hosted by Benilde-St, Margaret’s Saturday, May 13. Here are the Wildcat scores:

Hastings 4, Chisago Lakes 2

Chisago Lakes 4, Minneapolis Washburn 0

St. Francis 5, Chisago Lakes 1

The Wildcats (8-9 overall, 4-6 conference) play three conference games this week. They were scheduled to play at St. Louis Park on Monday and host Irondale on Tuesday. They’ll end the regular season today, Thursday, May 18, at home against the North Branch Vikings. Game time is 4:15 p.m. Section playoffs start next Monday, May 22. Section matchups won’t be determined till after the final regular season games are played this week.

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