10 A.M. GAMES

MCW 3, Cathedral 0

NORTH MANKATO — Third-seeded Martin County West defeated second-seeded New Ulm Cathedral 3-0 in the Section 2A Softball Tournament quarterfinals.

Maddie Carlson earned the win for MCW, striking out five while allowing just one hit and one walk. At the plate for the Mavericks, Lillie Schultz had a hit and an RBI, while Emily Schettler and Emily Anderson each picked up RBIs. Rowan Faber had a hit and two runs scored, while Hannah Rosenberg had a hit and a run scored.

Staff photo by Ari Selvey Sleepy Eye’s Paige Haala (left) tags out a United South Central runner during a Section 2A Softball Tournament game Saturday at Caswell Park.

Jayde Altermatt took the loss for the Greyhounds, who ended a 20-game win streak with the loss. She struck out six while allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits and three walks in six innings of work. At the plate, Altermatt had the lone hit of the game for the Greyhounds.

MCW scored one run in the third inning as Anderson grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Faber. The Mavericks added two more in the fifth, with Schultz putting the ball into play to score Faber again. Schettler grounded out in the next at-bat, but it was enough to score Rosenberg for a 3-0 lead.

MCW played United South Central later in the day, while Cathedral dropped to the elimination bracket to play Cleveland.

USC 2, Sleepy Eye 1

NORTH MANKATO — Top-seeded United South Central defeated fifth-seeded Sleepy Eye 2-1 to push the Indians to the elimination bracket of the Section 2A Softball Tournament Saturday at Caswell Park.

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Nicollet’s Chloe Kachelmeier slides back into first safely during a Section 2A Softball Tournament elimination game against Mountain Lake Area on Saturday at Caswell Park.

Taylor Berkner took the loss, striking out seven while allowing two earned runs on three hits in six innings. At the plate for Sleepy Eye, Paige Haala, Jace Schaumann and Nora Coulson each had a hit, with Schaumann scoring a run.

Schaumann initially gave Sleepy Eye the lead by taking home on a wild pitch, in the fourth inning, but a two-run homer by USC’s Taylor Schroeder clinched the game for the Rebels in the sixth inning.

Sleepy Eye played Nicollet in the elimination bracket later in the day.

Nicollet 6, MLA/C 3

NORTH MANKATO — Sixth-seeded Nicollet downed seventh-seeded Mountain Lake Area/Comfrey 6-3 in the elimination bracket of the Section 2A Softball Tournament Saturday at Caswell Park.

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Springfield third baseman Jasmine Novotny dives for a ball at third base during a Section 2A Softball Tournament elimination game against Cleveland on Saturday at Caswell Park.

Leah Bode earned the win for the Raiders, striking out three while allowing three earned runs on five hits in seven innings. At the plate for Nicollet, Bode was 2 for 3 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored, while Jazmyn Goettlicher had a home run. Madison Kettner had a hit and an RBI.

Nicollet went on to play Sleepy Eye at noon Saturday.

Cleveland 6, Springfield 0

NORTH MANKATO — Ninth-seeded Springfield was eliminated from the Section 2A Softball Tournament after a 6-0 loss to fourth-seeded Cleveland Saturday at Caswell Park.

Regan Beadell took the loss for the Tigers, striking out five while allowing six runs, none earned, on five hits and two walks. At the plate, Makay Winkelmann had a double for the Tigers’ only hit.

Springfield ends its season with a 6-17 record.

SATURDAY’S

NOON GAMES

Cathedral 4, Cleveland 3

NORTH MANKATO — Ashlynn Hillesheim took advantage of an inaccurate throw down to third base to score a walk-off run for second-seeded New Ulm Cathedral during a Section 2A Softball Tournament elimination game against fourth-seeded Cleveland Saturday at Caswell Park.

Staff photo by Ari Selvey Sleepy Eye’s Brissa Hernandez (left) scores a run during a Section 2A Softball Tournament game against Nicollet Saturday at Caswell Park.

Jayde Altermatt earned the win for Cathedral, striking out three while allowing no runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings. Abbey Hillesheim made the start, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out one in 4 2/3 innings.

At the plate for Cathedral, Jaylin Hartness was 3 for 3 with a run scored, while Brynn Wilfahrt was 2 for 3 with an RBI. Madelyn Haala had an RBI and a run scored.

Cathedral started the scoring as Hartness doubled to open the second inning, then took third on a wild pitch. Margo Finstad drew a walk, then took second on a steal. Haala grounded into a fielder’s choice, allowing Hartness to score and advancing Finstad to third, then Finstad scored on a wild pitch. Finally, a single from Wilfahrt brought home Haala for a 3-0 lead.

Kaitlyn Flowers hit a three-run home run for Cleveland in the top of the fifth inning, tying the game. In the bottom of the seventh, Ashlynn Hillesheim reached on an error, taking second base as the throw to first went high. Ashlynn Hillesheim took off for third on a passed ball, then as the throw to third came in high as well, was able to score the winning run standing.

Cathedral (21-3) plays fifth-seeded Sleepy Eye in the elimination bracket on Tuesday.

Sleepy Eye 8, Nicollet 7

NORTH MANKATO — Fifth-seeded Sleepy Eye mounted a comeback victory against sixth-seeded Nicollet to extend its season in the Section 2A Softball Tournament Elimination Bracket Saturday at Caswell Park.

Taylor Berkner earned the win for Sleepy Eye, striking out 10 while allowing two earned runs on four hits and nine walks in a complete day. At the plate for the Indians, Paige Haala was 3 for 4 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Jace Schaumann was 3 for 4 with an RBI. Callie Evers was 3 for 4 with a run scored, while Brissa Hernandez was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Leah Bode took the loss for Nicollet, striking out seven while allowing six earned runs on 12 hits and four walks. At the plate for the Raiders, Chloe Kachelmeier had a hit and two runs scored, while Kamryn Truebenbach and Taylor Wilking each had a hit and a run scored.

Nicollet held a 6-3 advantage after four innings, but a four-run sixth inning from Sleepy Eye took the lead back. A double from Haala started the scoring, driving home Kenley Jensen, then Hernandez doubled to tie the game as Haala and Megan Sellner scored. Finally ,a sacrifice fly from Berkner scored Hernandez to take the lead.

Sleepy Eye (17-6) plays second-seeded New Ulm Cathedral at 5 p.m. on Tuesday at Caswell Park, while Nicollet ends its season with a 14-8 record.

USC 2, MCW 1

NORTH MANKATO — Third-seeded Martin County West took a 2-1 loss to top-seeded United South Central in the Section 2A Softball Tournament semifinals on Saturday at Caswell Park.

Maddy Carlson took the loss for the Mavericks, striking out four while allowing one earned run on six hits in six innings. At the plate, Carlson and Courtney Anderson each picked up a hit.

USC got on the board in the first inning after a single, a fielder’s choice and a dropped third strike brought home a runner. The Rebels tacked on another run in the second on a single, a sacrifice bunt and another single to go up 2-0.

MCW got one run in the eighth inning, with Addy Wohlhuter drawing a walk then scoring as Hannah Rosenberg put an error into play.

MCW (20-4) awaits the winner of fifth-seeded Sleepy Eye and second-seeded New Ulm Cathedral in the elimination bracket finals on Tuesday night.

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Nicollet’s Cason Forbrook cheers her team on from first base during a Section 2A Softball Tournament elimination game against Mountain Lake Area on Saturday at Caswell Park.

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Springfield catcher Makay Winkelmann grabs a high pitch during a Section 2A Softball Tournament elimination game against Cleveland on Saturday at Caswell Park.