Packers still have shot at conference

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 14, 2003

Betsy Hingeveld's return to the No. 2 spot in the batting order brought about an immediate return in the eighth-ranked Austin softball team's 5-1 win over Rochester Century Tuesday at Todd Park.

Hingeveld, who was moved into the No. 6 spot the last time the Packers played Century, returned to the top half of the order Monday at Mayo and continued her recent tear in the final regular season home game. Hingeveld went 3-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.

"The last time we switched was against Century and I broke through there," Hingeveld said. "I feel comfortable, I'm seeing the ball better.

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"I think our hitting has come back on track again."

Hingeveld staked Austin to a 1-0 lead with her run-scoring single in the second, driving in designated player Teresa White who led off with a walk. Hingeveld made it 3-1 Packers with a two-run, two-out double in the fourth, scoring White's pinch-runner Sarah Brady and Steph Sundberg.

Austin got nine hits -- five of which came from the bottom third of the order. White was 2-2 with a double on two balls driven to the fence, and Sundberg was 2-3 with a double and a run scored. Caitlin Jurgensen added an RBI-single to give the Packers a 4-1 lead in the fifth.

Amy Kelly was quietly dominant from the circle, striking out seven while surrendering just one bloop single and an unearned run. It was Kelly's fourth one-hitter of the season.

"She pitched tonight like we were used to," said Century coach Tim Strain. "We just hope we don't have to face her in sections. She's a heck of a pitcher. Once they got that lead then she kind of got nasty at the end there."

Kelly faced just four more than the minimum in her 15th win of the season.

Austin, now 17-2 overall and 14-2 in the Big Nine Conference, has a rejuvinated sense of winning at least a share of the league crown. Mankato East's struggle against Owatonna continued Monday night as the Huskies upset the fifth-ranked Cougars. Now both AHS and East have two league losses.

"Friday we have an opportunity to get a share of the conference title," said Austin coach Todd Waterbury. "To play this type of ball is going to be a calming type of influence for our section run."

The Packers play on the road Friday at Mankato West in their final regular season game. Section 1AAA softball starts Wednesday, May 21, at Todd Park.