Rolling strong: Austin U16 softball team sweeps Rochester

Published 9:47 pm Monday, June 26, 2017

The Austin U16 softball team has been cruising through the Southeast Fastpitch Conference this season and that continued as Austin swept Rochester by scores of 11-6  in four innings and 16-0 in three innings in Todd Park Monday.

Austin (17-2 overall, 11-0 SFC) trailed 3-2 in the first game, but it bounced back in the bottom of the second inning when Tori Gardner knocked in two runs to put Austin up 4-3. Gardner also picked up the pitching win in the second game as she struck out three and allowed just one hit in three innings.

Austin’s Tori Gardner dodges a tag at home plate against Rochester in Todd Park Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Gardner said Austin’s squad has come together this summer.

Email newsletter signup

“We have most of our varsity team and we’re facing a lot of sophomores,” she said. “We’re doing really good against some lesser pitchers and we’re hitting the ball way better [than in the spring]. We feel like we’re having more fun, we’re more relaxed and we’re playing more as a team.”

Hannah McMasters went four-for-five with four RBIs on the day for Austin, which has qualified to play in the NAFA tournament in Shoreview, Minn.

Austin’s Hannah Biwer attempts to tag out a runner at second base against Rochester in Todd Park Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

“We’re having more fun and we’re getting along more,” McMasters said. “We’ve had some good at bats and we’ve been confident.”

Rochester 1 2 0  3    6    6   2

Austin 2 4 4  1    11 10  4

Austin pitching: Hannah Rasmussen (W) 4 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 6 R, 2 ER, 4 K, 1 HBP

Austin hitting: Halie Retterath, 0-for-2, R, BB; Rasmussen, 3-for-3, RBI, 2 R, SB, BB; Hannah Biwer, 2-for-2 RBI, 3 R, SB, BB; Hannah McMasters, 2-for-3, 2 RBIs, 3 R; Tori Gardner, 1-for-2, R, BB, SB; Jada Kresbach, 0-for-1, 2 SB, 2 BBs; Elora Hughes, 1-for-2, RBI, SB, BB; Katelyn Murphy, 0-for-3; Grace Pazurek, 1-for-2, RBI, BB

Elora Hughes takes a swing at a pitch for the Austin U16 softball team in Todd Park Monday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin 2 12 2    16  10  1

Rochester 0  0  0    0    1   3

Austin pitching: Gardner (W) 3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 R, 3 K, 1 HBP

Austin hitting: McMasters, 2-for-2, 3 RBIs, 2 R, SB, BB; Gardner, 0-for-2, R, BB; Kresbach, 2-for-3, 2 R; Hughes, 0-for-2, 2 R, SB, BB; Murphy, 0-for-1, R, 2 BBs; Pazurek, 2-for-3, 3 RBIs, R, SB; Retterath, 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 SB; Rasmussen, 1-for-1, RBI, 2 R, 2 SB, BB; Biwer, 1-for-2, 2 RBIs, 2 R, SB