Anyone who has seen Lyle/Pacelli softball this season knows just how invaluable Louise Mudra is to the team, both as a pitcher and as an offensive catalyst. Friday's game against Dover-Eyota was a perfect example, as Mudra tossed a three-hitter and scored two runs in a 3-1 win at Todd Park.

"After pitching 12 innings yesterday I was a little tired today, but I just pushed through it," Mudra said.

"Lou threw really well today, she was hitting all her spots," said L/P head coach Missy Blaser. "It's always nice to score those runs early on for her to work with."

L/P wasted little time in staking themselves to an early lead. Mudra led off the first with an infield single and stole second. Kate Boisjolie then drew a two-base error on a ball hit to the D-E shortstop that brought Mudra home.

They were back at it the next time around as Mudra drew a walk to lead off the third. Boisjolie was forced to swing the bat with two strikes after failing to lay down a bunt. It worked out just fine though, as she slapped a ball that skipped by the left fielder for an RBI-double.

"I was having trouble bunting it, so I decided I better hit a double then," joked Boisjolie.

Melissa Farrell drove her in one out later with a base hit that made it 3-0 in favor of L/P.

More impressive was the one at bat Mudra didn't score in. With runners on second and first, she chopped a two-handed bunt down the third base line past a drawn-in infield to load the bases.

"She's a very smart player," Blaser said of Mudra. "She's able to read where the fielders are and react to it with the bat."

L/P wasn't able to get any more runs across though, as D-E starter Sara Brandt pitched well for most of the game. In her six innings of work, she gave up only four hits and two earned runs while striking out eight.

While Brandt kept the L/P bats in check, Dover-Eyota made a couple of runs at Mudra.

They got two runners on in the fifth, but baserunning miscues eliminated both of them. Mallory Eichman was called out after a leadoff single for leaving the base early. Jenny Yust drew a two-out walk and stole second, but got greedy and was thrown out trying to take third a few pitches later.

The Eagles finally broke through in the sixth. With a runner on first, three L/P defenders collided on a fly to shallow center, knocking the ball loose and allowing Kelsey Erickson to come around to score. Another L/P error put runners on second and third, but Mudra was able to get Erin Tilford to pop up for the final out of the inning.

A third L/P miscue in the seventh put the leadoff runner on, but Mudra retired the side in order to preserve the win.

Her day at the plate wasn't too shabby either, as she went 2-for-2 with a walk, two runs scored, and a stolen base. Boisjolie was 1-3 on the day with her RBI-double and a run scored. Rounding out a top-heavy hitting performance by the L/P lineup was Melissa Farrell, who was 1-2 with a walk and an RBI.

With the non-conference win, Lyle/Pacelli evens its overall record at 4-4. They stay at Todd Park Monday for a doubleheader with Mabel-Canton starting at 4:30 p.m.

Box Score:

Dover-EyotaLyle/Pacelli

abrhbiabrhbi

Meiners c3000Mudra p2220

Loftus dh3000Boisjolie ss3111

Brandt p3000Mino c3000

Tilford ss3000M.Farrell 1b2011

Eichman 3b3010

Buntje cr0000

LaBare 1b3000Sampson 3b2000

Yust cf2010Svoboda cf3000

Surpenant rf0000Smith rf3000

Haag rf2000Meyer lf2000

Erickson lf2110H.Farrell 2b3000

Totals24130Totals23342

Dover-Eyota0000010--132

Lyle/Pacelli102000x--343

2B--Boisjolie. SB--Yust 2, Mudra. CS--Yust. S--Surpenant, K. Sampson.

IPHRERBBSO

Dover-Eyota

Brandt L643238

Lyle/Pacelli

Mudra W,4-4731016