Big Leads Hold up for Blooming Prairie

Blooming Prairie baseball earned a doubleheader sweep over Bethlehem Academy Tuesday 10-8 and 10-6. BP built a big lead in each game then withstood a Cardinals comeback each time.

In the opener, the Awesome Blossoms jumped out to a 7-0 lead after four innings. Coach Matt Kittelson said, "The guys came to play today mustering 13 hits in the first game. We had a 7-0 lead after the fourth following Luke Rennie's two-run home run. We struggled in the field after a pitching change in the top of the seventh, but Luke Larkoski was able to get Jack Clark to ground out to first base to end the game."

Payton Simon went 3 for 4 with three runs scored. Ian Wayne pitched the first six innings as BP won the first game 10-8.

Game two started well for BP, "Riding the momentum from game one, we jumped out to a 10-0 lead through three-and-a-half innings." The game shifted at that point. Kittelson said, "Alex Miller replaced Payton Simon, who only gave up one hit, with a 10-0 lead because we have games Thursday and Friday this week as well. We proceeded to have four errors in the bottom of the fourth. Miller pitched very well, four of the five runs he gave up were unearned. It was an extremely odd inning, but we were able to get out of it before further damage was done."

Rennie went 3-for-3 with four RBI's in the second game. Colin Lerum and Karson Vigeland each drove in two runs in the 10-6 win. Blooming Prairie hosts Hayfield Thursday and goes to Triton Friday.

In other Tuesday baseball games, Owatonna scored a 7-4 comeback win over Red Wing at Fuller Field. The Huskies go to Albert Lea for a 7 pm game Thursday, May 16 with coverage on Kat Kountry 105 FM and the Kat Kountry app. Rochester Century topped Mankato East 11-5 in a showdown of the top two teams in the Big Nine standings.

Hayfield edged NRHEG 3-2 with a bottom of the seventh rally. Rochester Lourdes beat Triton 8-2.

Softball games Tuesday included a 15-0, four-inning win for Red Wing over Owatonna. The Huskies host Senior Night Thursday when they host Albert Lea. The varsity will begin at 6:30 pm and be available on OwatonnaLive.com.

NRHEG softball beat Hayfield 6-2. Bethlehem Academy topped Blooming Prairie 8 to 4. Faribault edged Northfield 1-0 in a battle of top five ranked teams.