Owatonna Softball Knocks Off Top-Ten Ranked Mankato East

The recipe for victory was equal parts solid pitching, defense, and timely hitting in Owatonna's 7-2 win over No. 8-AAA Mankato East Thursday at Morehouse Park. All of the Huskies' runs came with two outs. Kennedy Hodgman threw a complete-game four-hitter.

Coach Jeremy Moran said, "The team came out with great energy and confidence tonight and it was great to see. Clutch hitting and focusing on not trying to do too much with the pitch they were given when at the plate."

He was happy with the defense as well, starting with the first play of the game. The East lead-off batter had a hard hit to third. It was fielded cleanly by Parris Hovden who made a strong throw to Samantha Bogen at first base. Hovden was busy at the hot corner and smashed a two-run triple in the fourth inning. She was coming off a three-home run game at Rochester Mayo on Tuesday.

Mehsa Krause had a couple of running grabs in right field. The Huskies turned a double-play in the fifth inning.

Hodgman had a solid game, said Moran, "Kennedy was really on in the circle tonight and so was the defense behind her. She had outstanding command of all her pitches tonight and that was the key to limiting a good-hitting Mankato East team."

Zoie Roush hit a two-run double to the fence in right-field in the first inning and scored on Bogen's single. Katelyn Bentz hit a two-run single in the second inning.

Line score
Mankato East 0-0-0-0-1-1-0, 2 runs, 4 hits, 2 errors, 5 left on base
Owatonna 3-2-0-2-0-0-x, 7 runs, 10 hits, 2 errors, 8 left on base

Owatonna (8-6 overall, 6-3 Big Nine Conference) plays at Rochester John Marshall Tuesday, May 10 with radio coverage on Kat Kountry 105 FM. The Huskies are home Thursday, May 12 for a doubleheader against defending conference champ Northfield. It will be Senior Night for the Huskies' lone 12th grader, Hovden.

Owatonna girls lacrosse topped Mayo 16-3 Thursday. The Huskies play at Rochester JM Monday, May 9 with radio coverage on AM 1390 KRFO/94.7 FM.