By Jeff Meder

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM — New Ulm Cathedral defeated Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton 15-5 in six innings on Friday in a nonconference softball game held at Harmon Park.

The victory made the Greyhounds record 17-1 overall.

Walks allowed by JWP pitching and JWP base-running errors, combined with timely Cathedral hitting and solid team defense, all contributed to the Greyhounds’ overcoming a shaky start and pulling away for the victory.

“[JWP] was hitting Abbey [Hillesheim] well,” Cathedral head coach Jamie Kuehn said. “This team really goes about coming back with more hits and more runs.”

Kuehn also observed that the Greyhounds took advantage of JWP’s base-running mistakes, getting the outs when needed to get the win.

Ava Brennan drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first inning and scored on Kiah Helget’s single. Helget went to second base on an error off her single and later scored on Alexa Hornick’s single. That made it 2-0 for Cathedral.

JWP snatched the momentum in the top of the second when Alexis Dahlberg singled. Autumn Thissen, the next batter up, crushed the ball over the left field fence for a two-run homer that tied the game at 2-2. After that hit, Cathedral seemed to settle down and take care of business.

Jenna Hotovec answered with a home run of her own over the center-field fence to help Cathedral regain the lead at 3-2.

The Bulldogs threatened to score in the top of the fourth. The Greyhounds’ defense stepped up and got an inning-ending double play to get them out of a jam. Madelyn Haala caught a line drive ball off the bat of Lillian Ewert and threw the ball to Kiah Helget for the final out at second base.

That double play seemed to ignite Cathedral as the Greyhounds scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Abbey Hillesheim doubled to start things before Brennan bunted to reach. Ava Schmid’s double to left field scored courtesy runner Ava Krueger and Brennan for a 5-2 Cathedral lead. Schmidt scored the team’s sixth run on Jaylin Hartness’s double. Hotovec walked and scored later on a fielder’s choice. Hartness came home on Margo Finstad’s single, which made it 8-2 Cathedral.

Victoria Bloomstrom and Kayle Langford got back-to-back singles in the top of the fifth inning. Brielle Dessner hit the ball over the fence in left field for a three-run homer, which cut into the Cathedral lead and make it 8-5.

Schmid walked in the bottom of the fifth inning and scored on Helget’s double to left field. Hotovec’s double scored Helget and it was 10-5 Cathedral. Hotovec later scored on an error. Hartness reached on an error and Hornick’s two-run home run made it 13-5 for Cathedral.

Jayde Altermatt was the pitcher in the top of the sixth inning. She kept the Greyhounds’ momentum when she retired all three Bulldog batters.

Hillesheim walked in the bottom of the sixth inning before Schmid singled. Hotovec’s single scored Hillesheim and Schmid for the final two runs of the contest.