Southland softball team showing positive signs, but Rebels fall to Falcons
Published 7:50 pm Friday, April 17, 2015
Southland’s Mckayla Swenson looks back after holding on a high fastball against Fillmore Central Friday in Rose Creek. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
ROSE CREEK — The Southland softball team is still looking for its first win of the season, but it’s starting to show some potential.
Southland catcher Ramsey Gilson comes up throwing on a Fillmore Central bunt Friday afternoon in Rose Creek. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
After dropping a close 4-2 game to Blooming Prairie Thursday, the Rebels were right in the game in a 3-1 loss to Fillmore Central (2-0 overall) in Rose Creek Friday.
The game was a scoreless stalemate for the first five innings before the Rebels finally flinched in the top of the sixth. FC got on the board when Morgan Malley singled in a run, but the inning got worse after Southland pitcher Sam Emanuel caught a line drive off the bat of Kaitlynn Aug and Emanuel turned to throw to third for an inning ending double play. Emanuel’s throw wasn’t handled at third and the Falcons added two unearned runs in the frame.
In the bottom of the sixth, Southland got on the board when Sam Emanuel grounded out and a run scored, but that was all of the damage the Rebels (0-5 overall) could do.
Malley, who pitched for the Falcons, held the Rebels to three hits, but she had just six strikeouts.
“She’s one of the top pitchers in our conference and we were getting contact the majority of the time,” Southland head coach Greg Schulte said. “We were right there the whole time and I was very pleased with the way we played tonight.”
Southland pitcher Sam Emanuel delivers against Fillmore Central Friday afternoon in Rose Creek. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Emanuel pitched all seven innings for the Rebels and she allowed just three hits while striking out six. Emanuel had missed some time after being hit by a line drive earlier this season.
“When she’s in there, she pitches very well and I believe we’re in every game when she’s in there,” Schulte said. “I don’t give disrespect to out other pitchers, they do well also. When Sam’s in there I think the whole team feels more comfortable.”
Schulte hopes the Rebels are on the verge of a breakthrough after they have played well for two straight games.
“If we play like we did tonight, we’re going to win our fair share of games this year,” he said.
FC 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 — 3 3 0
Southland 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 1 3 1
Southland pitching: Sam Emanuel (L) 7 IP, 3 H, 4 BB, 3 R, 1 ER, 6 K
Southland hitting: McKayla Swenson, 1-for-3, R, SB; Ramsey Olson, 1-for-3; Emanuel, 1-for-2, RBI, HBP; Brooklyn Johnson, 0-for-2; Olivia Gray, 1-for-3; Laura Kiefer, 0-for-3; Rachel Kloeckner, 0-for-2; Macy Klaehn, 0-for-2; Meg Finbraaten, 0-for-2; Mikayla Emanuel, 0-for-1
