NEW ULM-After defeating Lakeville 9-0 and Rochester 11-1, New Ulm Red defeated the Warriors (of Elk River and Rogers) 2-1 at Harman Park in pool B of the 16-U Windmill Classic.
"We are 3-0 and have only gave up two runs in three games," New Ulm Red head coach Rick Kamm said. "The girls are playing excellent and we are all set for [today]."
Abby Kamm led off the top half of the first for New Ulm with a single to left field. She stole second and scored on a two-out single by Brianna Sieve.
Jaclyn Nichols and Aliva Lensing each singled to start off the bottom half of the inning for the Warriors. Nichols came in to score on a groundball, but Lensing was stranded at third base.
The score remained tied until the fifth inning. Pitcher Hannah Backer led off the inning with a single, and courtesy runner Sieve scored all the way from first on an error following Morgan Soderholm's sacrifice bunt.
"We are a small-ball team," Kamm said. "We try to manufacture runs when we can, especially against such good teams. "
Backer helped out her own cause, by going 2-for-3 at the plate.
New Ulm threatened to score again in the sixth and seventh innings, but left two runners on base in each inning.
Savanah Sarvey singled and advanced to second with just one out in the bottom of the seventh for the Warriors, but was left there, representing the tying run.
Sarvey, batting 11th in the order, went 2-for-2.
Backer recorded the win for New Ulm, her second of the day. She allowed the one run on six hits over seven innings. She struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
Kamm, who picked up the other win on the day, finished the game going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases.
Anna Pipenhagen pitched for the Warriors. She allowed two runs-one earned- on seven hits in seven innings. She struck out nine and did not walk a batter.
Coming in to the game, the Warriors had not allowed a run in its previous two games.
"They were a great team," Kamm said. "Coming into the tournament, they had only given up eight runs in seven games. We were able to score two and win. "
With the three wins, New Ulm will play the winner of Lakeville and the North Stars at 9:30 a.m. today at Harman Park.