Blooming Prairie’s Abby Wayne looks at a pitch during BP’s 8-0 win over Medford in BP Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

BLOOMING PRAIRIE — Blooming Prairie senior pitcher Shelbi Swenson didn’t take long to get warmed up as she struck out 14 and didn’t allow a hit or a walk in BP’s season opening 8-0 win over Medford in BP Monday.

Swenson had to force a fly-out on a 3-2 pitch against Medford’s Brittany Kosel on the first at-bat of the game, but it was smooth sailing for her the rest of the way.

Blooming Prairie’s Shelbi Swenson fires a pitch against Medford Monday. Swenson pitched a no-hitter in BP’s 8-0 win. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

“Shelbi pitched a phenomenal game for us right out of the gates,” BP head coach Ali Mach said. “That’s good for us. When we get our bats going, we’ll be tough.”

Swenson wasn’t nervous about the fact that she might lose her no-hitter because she didn’t even know she had it. Medford (0-1 overall, 0-1 Gopher) had three runners reach base on errors in the game, and Swenson wasn’t exactly keeping track of stats while she was pitching.

“I honestly didn’t even know,” Swenson said. “After the game (coach) Mach said she thought I threw a no-hitter and I did. I really didn’t care that much, but it was nice to start out the year with it. I feel like I started out stronger than last season and I’m hoping to keep improving.”

BP tallied just nine hits in the win, but the top of its order provided the bulk of the damage. BP’s combo of slap hitters —sophomore Tessa Ivers and freshman Abby Wayne — went a combined 5-for-6 with six runs scored, five stolen bases, two walks and two RBIs between them.

Ivers was playing in her first game as a lead-off hitter as BP grad Tricia DeBoer had held down the spot for at least four years.

“I feel a lot more comfortable slap hitting this year and I’ve worked on it a lot,” Ivers said. “I have big shoes to fill.”

Blooming Prairie’s Sam Ivers rounds second base in BP Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

BP (1-0 overall, 1-0 Gopher) never had any big innings in Monday’s win, but the Blossoms scored at least one run in five of the six innings. It was just the third time the squad had been outside this spring.

“Offensively we didn’t play very well,” Mach said. “The slower had a pitching had an effect on us. Our top two hitters did a good job and they adjusted to it, but our hitters didn’t hit today. I think we’re still getting used to things. It’s a good first game.”

BP was working a few new players into its lineup and some of last year’s returnees are playing new positions this season. Mach said that nothing is set in stone yet.

“It’s gonna take a little while for some of them to grow into their roles,” Mach said. “I still haven’t made some concrete decisions yet, so some of these kids are out here playing to show me that they deserve to be at those spots.”

Monday’s game was originally scheduled to be played in Medford, but it was moved to BP, where the field conditions were better.

When Swenson knew the game would be played, it was music to her ears.

“I was so excited,” she said. “All day I was checking the Web Site to see if it was getting canceled. I wanted to play so bad.”

Medford 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 5

BP 2 1 0 2 2 1 X — 8 9 3

BP pitching: Shelbi Swenson (W), 7 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 14 K

BP hitting: Tessa Ivers, 3-for-4, 4 SB, 4 R, BB; Abby Wayne, 2-for-2, 2 RBIs, 2 R, SB, BB; Jenna Krell, 0-for-2, RBI, BB; Swenson, 0-for-3, BB; Sam Ivers, 1-for-2, R, SB, 2 BBs; Megan O’Connor, 1-for-4, double, RBI; Mariah Holland, 1-for-4; Delaney Nelson, 1-for-3; Madison Worke, 0-for-2, BB; Ashley Krohnberg, BB; Sydney Heiber, 0-for-1, R, SB