Staff photo by Steve Muscatello New Ulm startin pitcher Ashlyn Donner winds up to deliver a pitch during the Eagles’ win against Fairmont Thursday at Harman Park in New Ulm.

By Travis Rosenau

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM — New Ulm’s Ashlyn Donner didn’t let the near three-week delay to the softball season bother her one bit.

Donner was in midseason form as she threw a 12-strikeout no-hitter against Fairmont on Thursday at Harmon Park.

An offensive surge in the fourth inning by the Eagles didn’t hurt either, as they added six runs on six hits to put the Cardinals away 11-0 in five innings of Big South Conference softball.

It might have been New Ulm’s first game of the season, but Donner was in prime shape, allowing just two walks in the game. The junior struck out the side in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

“Coming into the first game, we were all kind of nervous,” Donner said. “But I think that once we got out there and started playing, I knew that my team was back there. And I knew that I could throw the strikes and get the strikeouts because my team was behind me — in case they [Fairmont] got a hold of any.”

The Eagles struck right away in the first inning for two runs, as Kaila Brudelie brought Joey Batt home on a sac-fly and Carli Botten scored on a wild pitch.

The Eagles then benefited on a pair of Fairmont errors in the third inning and after an RBI base hit by Donner, led 5-0. The fourth inning saw New Ulm bat through the lineup and was highlighted with an RBI double by Mariah Piotter and a two-run single into left field by Brudelie.

The Eagles’ offense was led by Joey Batt, who was 3 for 3 with three runs and an RBI. Brudelie was 1 for 2 with three RBIs and two runs.

Donner was glad to see how hot the New Ulm bats were throughout the game.

“I think it made all of us real confident in our defense,” Donner said. “We have crazy bats. Today they came out, obviously. The team chemistry this year is just crazy, too. Everybody this year is awesome.”

New Ulm (1-0, 1-0) hosts Blue Earth Area at 4:30 p.m. on Friday for a doubleheader at Harmon Park.