The Faribault Falcons jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back in a 12-0 six inning victory over previously unbeaten Mound-Westonka today.  White Hawks senior pitcher Maddy White got a strike out looking to start the game before the next six Falcons batters reached base, 5 by executing hits.

Faribault added 3 runs in the second inning and another in the third before senior Zoe Morrissey had a pinch hit bases loaded double to score three more runs in the 6th inning.  My scorebook had 16 hits for the Falcons and 5 hits for Mound-Westonka.

Senior pitcher McKayla Armbruster came into the game leading the state in strikeouts with 61 in 25 innings.  Armbruster added 10 K's in the six inning battle of unbeatens.  What may be more impressive is the fact the right handed veteran has not walked a batter after five games.  Armbruster may have tired a bit.  After her 9th strikeout to start the bottom of the sixth inning Mound-Westonka punched three successive singles to load the bases.

There were two strikes on each of those batters.  There was a 0-2 count on White Hawks senior shortstop Melissa Hall to start the bottom of the first before she clubbed a single to left field.  The only other hit was a bunt popped up that Armbruster dove for and couldn't make a clean catch.  I ruled it a hit in my book and so did the Faribault book keepers.  That came on the first pitch of the at bat.

In the first inning following the called third strike to start the game senior third baseman Ellie Knutson got a pop up single just between second base and the outfield.  She would go to second base on a wild pitch during an at bat that had Armbruster walk on four pitches and the Falcons were in business.  Senior catcher Abby Van Ryn then clobbered the ball scoring Knutson, Armbruster's courtesy runner McKenna Smith and Van Ryn scored thanks to a couple of throwing errors on the play.

Junior shortstop Abby Lake took a 0-2 pitch and smacked it to right center for a hit.  Then senior right fielder Lauren Steinberg jumped on the first pitch to strike a double.  Senior center fielder Lexi Velander jumped on the first pitch for an RBI single.  Junior designated player Kelsie Demars had a productive ground out that produced a run to put Faribault ahead 5-0 before all the fans were settled in their seats.

Senior second baseman Lauren O'Neil started the second inning for Faribault with a hard hit double.  Knutson was walked.  Armbruster hit an RBI double.  Van Ryn smacked a 2 RBI single.  Lake, Steinberg had back to back singles and pulled off a double steal while Velander was at the plate but she popped out to the pitcher before an inning ending strikeout.  After an inning and a half it was 8-0 Faribault on top.

Lauren O'Neil hammered an 0-2 pitch for a one out single in the third inning.  She would score with two outs on a Armbruster single.  Van Ryn stepped to the plate and Smith running again for Armbruster was thrown out trying to steal second base to end the inning.

Five straight batters were retired in the 4th and 5th innings before junior Lindsay O'Neil stroked a full count pitch for a single in the 5th inning.

With one out in the top of the 6th inning Armbruster picked up her third hit of the game.  Sophomore Allie Velander went in to run for her.  Van Ryn clubbed her third hit of the game.  With two outs, Steinberg coaxed a walk to load the bases. Morrissey smashed a 2-2 pitch for a bases loaded double to finish the scoring in the game for the Falcons.

Armbruster finished the game throwing 92 pitches, 71 for strikes, had no walks and 10 strikeouts.  She was also officially three for three at the plate with a double.  More than good enough for one of our Faribault State Farm Insurance agents Faribault players of the game.

Every Falcons player contributed in the victory so it was hard to pin down specific players of the game but I added Van Ryn with 3 hits and multiple RBI.  Lauren O'Neal and Knutson did their jobs at the top of the order scoring 4 of the Faribault 12 runs and Morrissey had the bases loaded double to put an exclamation point on an impressive 12-0 six inning win over a previously unbeaten team.

The Falcons host an excellent Winona team at Alexander Park Tuesday.  Mound-Westonka entertains Orono Monday.

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