NRHEG Softball, Baseball Drop Season Openers to Bethlehem Academy

Errors stung the NRHEG softball team in a season-opening 6-4 loss to Bethlehem Academy on Monday. Walks and miscues hurt the baseball squad in a 15-4 loss at BA.

Panther coach Wendy Schultz told KRFO in an email that the game started well, "We played pretty well in about five innings." NRHEG led 3-1 after five. The Cardinals rallied with three in the sixth and two more in the sixth for the 6-4 final. "We had a couple of very costly errors when FBA had runners in scoring position." The Panthers had several hits but didn't string them together. S. Lembke and G. Johns each had a double. Natalie Aaseth only surrendered two earned runs but took the loss. NRHEG hosts United South Central on Thursday at 5PM.

In other softball Monday, Medford rolled by USC 14-1. Austin beat Blooming Prairie 9-2 in the dome at the Austin football field.

NRHEG baseball was held to one hit against Bethlehem Academy at Bell Field in Faribault in a five-inning 15-4 loss. Coach Drew Paukert said, "Overall we struggled at the plate offensively. We had 12 strikeouts." The Panthers rallied to within 6-4 entering the bottom of the fifth inning when any hopes of a comeback ended. Paukert said, "a few errors, walks, and a few timely hits blew the game open for BA." NRHEG plays at USC Thursday.

In other baseball, Medford trailed United South Center 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning when the game was suspended due to darkness. It will be completed when the teams meet at USC later this season.