BLOOMING PRAIRIE — The top-seeded Blooming Prairie softball team wasn’t overpowering, but it did what it had to do as it beat No. 8 Faribault Bethlehem Academy (5-13 overall) 9-0 in a Subsection 1A West Division first round elimination game Thursday.

The Awesome Blossoms (16-1 overall) pounded out 14 hits, but they couldn’t always get them when it counted.

“I think the pace was a little slower than we wanted and we had a little bit of nerves early on,” BP head coach Ali Mach said. “It definitely wasn’t the best way to start out. We played pretty well but I think we could’ve played with a little more intensity. They’ll improve on that on Saturday.”

BP scored twice on steals of home as Tricia DeBoer stole home on a delay steal in the second and Sam Ivers stole home on a double steal in the fifth inning.

Ivers, a sophomore, came through in the second inning with a two-run single to right field that made it a 3-0 game.

“I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable hitting on varsity,” Ivers said. “We just play it game by game and we want to get better each game.

Ivers went 2-for-3 with a double in the No. 9 spot, while BP’s No. 8 hitter Jenna Krell went 2-for-3 and the No. 7 hitter Sidni Olson was 3-for-3 with an RBI.

“The bottom of the order has done a real nice job for us and that’s what’s made us solid all year long,” Mach said. “One through nine we can put the ball in play.”

BP senior pitcher Erica Manske allowed two hits in the first two innings, but she cruised the rest of the way as the only two FBA hitters to reach base got on by errors.

“I always get nervous coming into these games,” Manske, who struck out seven, said. “It’s scary because they’re single elimination. We know we have to come out and play hard just like every other game.”

While BP’s bottom of the order thrived, the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 hitters combined to go just 1-for-9.

“All of the girls hit faster pitchers better,” Mach said. “We have to learn to adjust and I think they just had some off nights, it’s nothing to worry about.”

BP will play No. 4 Randolph (10-11 overall) Saturday at 11 a.m. in Todd Park.

FBA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 2 2

BP 1 4 2 0 2 0 0 — 9 14 2

BP pitching: Erica Manske (W), 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 7 K

BP hitting: Tricia DeBoer, 4-for-4, 2 R, SB, BB; Manske, 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, BB; Tayla Jones, 0-for-3, RBI, R, 2 BBs; Hunter Henderson, 1-for-2, 2 BBs; Julia Manges, 0-for-4; Shelbi Swenson, 1-for-3, triple, R, SB, BB; Sidni Olson, 3-for-3, RBI, 2 R, BB; Jenna Krell, 2-for-3, R, BB; Sam Ivers, 2-for-3, double, 2 RBIs, 2 R, SB, BB