NEW ULM - Brittany Hoffmann's two-run inside-the-park home run and a quality pitching performance from Maddy Helget led New Ulm to a 5-2 victory over Maple River in 18U softball action in the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday.
New Ulm won the second game 11-3 in five innings.
Helget went the distance for New Ulm in the first game while allowing five hits and striking out two. Hallie Kuelbs picked up the win in the second game, allowing eight hits in five innings of work.
New Ulm got on the board in the second inning of the first game with a two-out, two-run base knock from Katie Forst. Kristi Larson reached on an error and Helget got a base hit. Forst stepped in and she ripped the ball into center field to take a 2-0 early lead.
Kali Denn singled in the following inning and a triple to left field from Larson scored Denn and New Ulm took a commanding 3-0 lead.
Maple River managed to score two runs and then Hoffmann clinched it in the fifth.
Charlotte Pfingsten led off the inning with a walk and that brought up the hard-hitting Hoffmann.
Hoffmann belted the pitch well over the left fielder's head and came all the way around to score the inside-the-parker with ease.
Helget shut down the Eagles in the final two innings for the victory.
Even though Helget isn't a regular pitcher for New Ulm, head coach Katie Larson was pleased with her performance.
"Maddy Helget doesn't usually pitch for us, she was filling in for Carlie Maasz, who is on vacation," Katie Larson said. "Usually its Carlie and Hallie Kuelbs, but I think all of them are very consistent pitchers and will do very well for us this year."