Owatonna Softball Drops Home Opener

Owatonna softball had opportunities throughout their home opener with base runners in nearly every inning, but couldn't get the big hit to create a rally and lost 6-1 to Rochester John Marshall Tuesday at Morehouse Park. OHS stranded nine runners, seven of them in scoring position. The Huskies had at least one hit in six of the seven innings and out hit the Rockets 8-6.

JM struck first with a run in the top of the first inning. A lead off double from Sam Guetter, a walk to number two hitter Mikayla Gee and a couple of steals put the Rockets in position for a big inning. Huskies freshman pitcher Parris Hovden worked out of the jam with a strikeout, a ground out that plated one run and a soft liner.

OHS answered in the bottom of the frame with a run-scoring double from Ana LaDuke after Mia Hiber hit a one-out single. LaDuke went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles.

For Owatonna after that, it was a series of missed opportunities. In the second inning, they had two on with one out. In the third, a two-out double left a runner in scoring position. In the fourth, OHS put the first two batters on. But a couple of fielder's choice plays snuffed out any rally.

In the fifth inning, Kaitlyn Madole doubled with one out and LaDuke hit a ball that went off the glove of the diving second baseman, keeping Madole tied to second. A strikeout and fly out ended the threat. JM sophomore pitcher Abby Miles did not walk a batter. The All Big Nine Honorable Mention pick from 2018 struck out three batters and the Rocket defense committed just two errors.

JM scored twice in the third inning on a pair of hits and OHS miscues for a 3-1 lead. A two-out double and a subsequent Owatonna error led to an unearned run in the fourth. Another double and error gave JM a 5-1 lead in the fifth. John Marshall plated an insurance run in the seventh, swiping home on the throw back to the pitcher for the 6-1 final.

Owatonna (1-3) is scheduled to play at Rochester Century Thursday, April 11 and host a doubleheader with Mankato East Saturday, April 13.